A Stu Midwinter hat-trick fired unbeaten Cheltenham Civil Service to second place in Division One of the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League as they thumped visiting Whitecroft 5-0.

Service dominated possession in the first half but after 25 minutes had nothing to show for it.

While they moved the ball well, clear chances were limited although at the other end Whitecroft were left to feed on scraps with Service keeper Brett Pittaway having a quiet afternoon.

Service’s possession did pay off, however, and when the breakthrough came it was worth waiting for with Dan Wills firing home in style, beating the keeper from 20 yards with a superb strike.

Having opening their scoring Service soon doubled their lead. A superb ball from the back was taken down by Stu Midwinter who rounded the on-rushing keeper before coolly slotting into the empty net .

With half-time approaching Service then made it three. Dan Wills was brought down after he beat his defender on the edge of the box and Midwinter stepped up, firing home from the spot.

While Service took a while to get going in the first half, the same could not be said about the second and within 10 minutes they had two more goals and the game was over as a contest.

If Wills’ first goal was down to power, his second was all about finesse. Receiving the ball on the edge of the box, he guided the ball into the top corner leaving the keeper stranded.

No sooner had Wills bagged his second then Midwinter claimed his hat-trick, finishing from close range as a cross left him with the easiest of finishes.