Hitchin Town round-up by NEIL JENSEN IF anyone doubted Hitchin s title credentials, then their 5-2 victory at Yate on Saturday removed any doubts over the sustainability of their challenge. The Canaries outclassed their hosts with a brand of attacking foo

Hitchin Town round-up by NEIL JENSEN

IF anyone doubted Hitchin's title credentials, then their 5-2 victory at Yate on Saturday removed any doubts over the sustainability of their challenge.

The Canaries outclassed their hosts with a brand of attacking football that left Yate crestfallen inside 25 minutes.

Although Chris Dillon is stealing the headlines, there are other players who have become pivotal figures over the past few weeks. David Deeney, Rob Miller and Liam Folds all deserve special mention, but manager Darren Salton will have anyone believe that everyone is playing their part in Hitchin's rise to the top.

Dillon netted a hat-trick to become the BGB Southern Premier leading scorer with 12 goals in 14 league games this season with his stunning finishing. The prospect of a fully fit Josh Sozzo and Dillon linking up in the next few weeks is an appetising one for Salton and Hitchin's fans.

Dillon opened the scoring after 11 minutes, racing on to a Miller through ball and rounding the goalkeeper to slot into the net. Folds made it 2-0 after 19 minutes, lashing the ball home following a corner. Two minutes later, Dillon scored again, breaking free before shooting home from just inside the area.

Yate were stunned, but there was more to come from the ebullient Dillon, who ran on to Deeney's pass and shot into the net from 10 yards.

Yate, to their credit came out in a determined mood in the second half, and Jason Wood reduced the arrears after 50 minutes. Hitchin recovered from their lack lustre start to the half, and on 65 minutes, Gavin Jaggard fired in their fifth goal, a low shot that gave goalkeeper Tony Court no chance.

The home side grabbed a consolation goal in the 89th minute from Mike Wyatt. The second half of the season promises to be very exciting for Hitchin, who on this form appear to have their best team in more than a decade.

Canaries: Beckwith, Frater, Ducket, Hammonds, Folds, Deeney, Jaggard, Miller, Dillon, Sozzo (Orphanou 78), French (Mills 60).

* On Boxing Day, Hitchin lost the chance to go top of the table when they were held 1-1 at Top Field by Hemel Hempstead.

An own goal from Liam Folds gave the visitors the lead before in-form striker Chris Dillon fired an equaliser in the 84th minute in front of a bumper crowd of 473.

But manager Salton was far from unhappy saying afterwards: "I was quite happy with the result because the opposition played very well.

"This is a very tight league at the top and my players are working very hard.

"There is a lot more hard work to be done but I am looking forward to a happy New Year with this side when every game will be a massive one for us.