Barnsley trialist Kai Hancock netted a first half hat-trick in Athersley Rec's 5-1 win at Retford on Saturday and his manager is now hoping they can copy the Reds by ending a fourth-month wait for a home victory.
Hancock, who came through the Rec youth set-up, trained with the Barnsley FC development sides earlier this season and is still being monitored by the Reds as well as Sheffield United who sent a scout on Saturday and are hoping to give him a trial.
Hancock, from Grimethorpe, has 21 goals this season, with the next highest scorers in the Athersley squad netting four. He is joint fifth top-scorer in the division along with former Worsbrough Bridge and Penistone Church striker Oliver Fearon.
Kai managed to net his second hat-trick of the season despite suffering with a sickness bug in the build-up to the game and falling asleep on the coach while travelling to Retford.
The 5-1 thrashing was Rec's fifth win in their last eight away league games which have brought just one defeat. But they have not won at home in the league since August 31.
Athersley – ninth with 35 points from 23 games – host fifth-placed Handsworth Parramore tomorrow as they hope to win their final match at Sheerien Park in 2016 and emulate Barnsley who got their first home win since August against Norwich City on Saturday. Handsworth are the league's top-scorers with 80 goals.
Rec manager Sean Margison said: "We just can't put our finger on why we've been struggling at home, and we talk about it all the time. We have more teams playing on our pitch this season so the grass is a bit longer. That might have something to do with it, but we've also just been poor in a few of our home games.
"We don't set up any differently at home to how we set up away but we can't seem to get it right at home. If we want to push up the league in the rest of the season, then we will need to sort our home form out.
"It will be a big ask to do it against Handsworth, who are a very good team and they beat us 7-1 earlier this season. But it would be nice to get some revenge for that and I know we are capable of competing with them."
On Saturday, Hancock opened the scoring in the sixth minute, netted again midway through the half – after Retford had levelled – then completed his treble just before the interval to send his side in 3-1 up. Retford had a player sent off for a stamp on Lee Garside but the score remained the same until the final five minutes when Sam Bebbington and Liam Owen added some gloss to the win for Rec.
Margison said: "It was a really good result and it was nice to keep 11 men on the pitch because we have had too many red cards recently. "We scored some really good goals and played some nice football."
The result increased the gap between Rec and third-bottom Retford to 21 points while they are 25 points behind runaway leaders Cleethorpes who are in the only promotion place. Margison is pleased with the position after his side struggled against relegation last season.
He said: "We are only seven points behind last season's total and we still have 19 games to play. The lads are doing really well and it's a vast improvement on last season. Our new signings have made a difference but the lads who were with us last season are playing with a lot more confidence and with smiles on their faces.
"We are well clear of relegation zone now but we don't want to rest on our laurels then trail off and finish 16th or something. I want to keep pushing up the table and see how we end up. We have had a lot of injuries and suspensions but we have a good-sized squad and we might add one or two more."
