Marco Adaggio is the star turn for Ellesmere Rangers
Ellesmere Rangers director of football Alan Davies has praised striker Marco Adaggio after his hat-trick against Dudley Town last night helped secure a top-half finish in the West Midlands Premier Division.
Adaggio netted twice in the first half and once again after the break to help his team to a 5-1 victory away from home.
It was the Meresiders' seventh straight win, and it ensured they cannot finish lower than 11th in the league now, with one game left to play.
It is fine achievement for the team, which had struggled early on in the aftermath of last season's relegation from the Midland Alliance.
Davies said: "Marco scored three and made the other two as well, so it was a really good performance. I think he scored his 30th goal of the season last night and he will be a strong candidate for player of the season.
"We are guaranteed 11th placed now and if the results go for us on Saturday we can go up to 10th which would be brilliant because we have had to re-build this year."
Dave Howarth put Ellesmere 1-0 up after five minutes and Adaggio struck a brace on 15 and 25 minutes in give them a 3-0 half-time lead.
He completed his hat-trick five minutes into the second half and after Dudley had pulled one back in the 80th minute, Howarth netted his second four minutes from the end of normal time.
