March Town manager sings praises of frontman after his first-half treble against Lutterworth Town in United Counties League Premier Division South
March Town boss Ash Taylor sang the praises of striker Craig Gillies as the prolific frontman added to his growing tally of goals with another hat-trick at the weekend.
Captain Gillies scored a first-half treble for the Hares against Lutterworth during a 6-0 win in the United Counties League Premier South on Saturday.
The big frontman has now broken the 300-goal barrier as a striker at grassroots level, notching 309 times in 408 games, 142 of which have come for the Hares.
Taylor said: "You don't do that by not being a top player. Craig is a top player and on top of that, he's a top man.
"He loves this football club and he is skipper of this football club. He always does everything for his team and always wears his heart on his sleeve.
"His attitude, desire and hungriness to score goals have always been there since I started working with him at the age of 19.
"He started as a centre-half and I converted him to a striker. That's what he does and that's what he brings to the team so credit to him.
"He's scored that amount of goals but for him, he wants more, that's the way he is and his mentality. I'm sure he will keep on scoring more goals for this football club and keep being a great captain.
"I know Craig got a hat-trick and Dotty got two but I thought every player was at a good level and that's what we need.
"Players know they to be at that level to stay in the team. The reality is if they don't perform then they can't argue if they get replaced in the team because someone wants your shirt."
Gillies plundered goals in the fourth, 21st and 45th minute, to put him on 17 for the season.
Sam Green was also on target after 22 minutes as they went into the break 4-0 up.
March made five substitutions in the second half.
Dan Cotton then struck twice to make it 13 for the campaign for him, netting in the 90th minute and the second minute of added-on time.
"When you win 6-0 it's deserved," said Taylor.
"It was a good performance today, playing some great football on a pitch that has had work on it.
"I think the break over Christmas has helped as the club has done loads of work on the pitch, so credit to them, and it played better for us today.
"We started the game fast and put pressure on the opposition and we were really ruthless today. Every time we got near their box I felt we could score today and that's a really good feeling to have.
"Combined with that, having a really good defensive structure, I thought we were good in both boxes. You can't beat scoring six goals, it has been a good afternoon for us."
March Town: Gill, Burrows, Brumby, Withers (Henderson), Emmington, Green (Whyatt), Cotton, Saunders, Gillies (Allen), Tait (Biggs), Williams (Escorcio). Star man: Craig Gillies.
Attendance: 214
