PURTON produced a stunning second-half performance to claim a third straight victory in Hellenic League Division One West with a 5-1 success at home to Shortwood United Reserves on Saturday.

Justin Miller’s men were held at 1-1 up until the interval at the Red House but ran riot after the restart with four more goals without reply.

Matt Bennett led the charge with a hat-trick, while Ollie Hunt and Shannon Pocock also hit the back of the net for the home side.

Manager Miller lauded the superb level that Purton reached in the second period but conceded he had not imparted any great words of wisdom during his half-time team-talk.

“I was really pleased with the performance,” said Miller.

“It was only 1-1 at half-time but we’d started off really well. We scored straight from the kick-off and played really well in the first 20 minutes.

“We should have gone 2-0 up but didn’t put the chance away, and possibly could have had a penalty midway through too but didn’t get it. Then a minute later, it was 1-1 and they were the better team until half-time.

“In the second half, we played really well and took our chances and that was really pleasing.

“I didn’t say anything special to the lads. Shortwood had a couple of good players, who were quick up top, and we were worried about the ball in behind, so we spoke about trying to cut it out at source, trying to keep it tighter, and worrying about killing the ball before it was played through.

“We did that well and we were really strong, and showed good quality in the second half.”

Elsewhere, Gareth Davies’ Fairford Town maintained their five-point lead at the top of the table with a 2-0 win at North Leigh, Chris Jackson and Dan Drewett grabbing the goals.

Meanwhile, third-from-bottom New College pushed second-placed Cirencester Town Development all the way when they made the short trip up the A419, but they went down to a narrow 3-2 defeat.

A solitary strike midway through the second half was enough to see Michael McNally’s Shrivenham beaten 1-0 at home by high-flying Easington Sports.