A weekend hat-trick took Conor McDonagh’s impressive tally up to 23 goals for the season as he earned Hungerford Town a point from a 3-3 draw at Beaconsfield Town in the Pitching In Southern League Premier South.
“It’s the best feeling ever when you’re on a hat-trick and you see the third go in,” said McDonagh, who joined The Crusaders in the summer and also marked his debut with a hat-trick against Plymouth Parkway on the opening day of the season. “It was even more so on Saturday as my hat-trick goal was from distance.
“I feel that strikers are judged on how many hat-tricks they have got and that was my second of the season, so I am happy with that!
“I’ve been blessed to have quality team-mates around me and a manager who backs me and that’s the simple reason why I’ve been able to reach 23 goals already this season.
“My target going in to each season is always 30, and I think most strikers will say the same, so to be over 20 already is good going.
“I’ve played at this level a long time and I honestly feel like anyone can win it this season. Everyone seems to be beating everyone and it’s really competitive, which it always is, but you see teams at the bottom beating the top teams and in previous seasons it’s been less so.”
The festive period starts with Hungerford hosting leaders, Salisbury, on Saturday before heading to Didcot Town on Boxing Day and welcoming Merthyr Town on New Year’s Day.
“The festive period is always about football,” added McDonagh without hesitation. “I wouldn’t know what to do on Boxing Day if I didn’t have a game!
“This time of the season also makes and breaks a team, so if we can continue this unbeaten run then who knows where we’ll end up? We have a couple of tough home games and an away local derby, so anything can happen.
“As a team, our aim is the play offs, then hopefully promotion, and from a personal target, it would be to win the golden boot, but as long as I’m playing injury-free and winning games of football, I’m happy and I mean that.”
IMAGE: Hungerford Town FC
Most clubs are looking for volunteers. Find out more on the button below:
www.PitchingInVolunteers.co.ukAll the news and results in one place.
REGISTER