Will Higgins scored a hat-trick as Hardwicke defeated visitors Broadwell Amateurs 3-1 in the County League on Saturday.

After Will Matthews had headed Richard Mansell’s cross wide, Higgins got his first in the 12th minute when he won the ball in midfield, played a one-two with Will Matthews and then drove the ball home.

A few minutes later the same combination of Higgins and Matthews saw Higgins’ shot cleared off the line by Lee Hanson.

On 20 minutes Hardwicke were awarded a penalty but Richard Mansell’s shot was well saved by Ben Reed in the Broadwell goal.

Broadwell had a good chance in the 35th minute when Liam Thomas’s shot was well saved by Tom Kaye but they were level just a minute later when Steve Belfitt headed in from a free-kick.

Hardwicke then missed another good chance as Matthews headed wide from a Higgins cross. Higgins scored his second on 50 minutes when Toby Webb put him clear on goal and he completed his hat-trick in the 75th minute when Steve Bick put him clear to chip the ball over keeper Reed.

Bick himself then had a great chance to make it four but with a one-on-one situation Reed made a great one-handed save to keep the ball out.

Sharpness moved into second place, three points behind leaders Frampton United, with a 1-0 win at AEK Boco.

Sharpness had the first chance early on when keeper Joel Manning pulled off a great save from a corner. Jake Slocombe hit the crossbar for Boco and Cory Langdon’s effort went just wide before Sam Strickland scored the only goal on 32 minutes for Sharpness.

In the second half Boco’s Liam Powell struck the crossbar and Jake Slocombe had his shot cleared off the line by James Higgs.

Quedgeley Wanderers scored first against Little Stoke but that was as good as it got because they were beaten 5-1.

Henry Birkett got their goal after 12 minutes when he hit a 25-yard drive.

Gala Wilton started well in their home game against Rockleaze Rangers with Rangers keeper Lewis Brodie saving well on two occasions.

However, against the run of play Rangers took the lead in the 16th minute when a cross into the box saw Sam Bailey nip in to head home. Gala levelled on 22 minutes when Jay Dare sent Martin Smith clear to round Brodie and tap home.

In the second half Rangers made it 2-1 on 62 minutes with a very good shot from the left side of the box by Mark Ridgeway and then six minutes later Jordan Dent raced clear to make it 3-1.

Late in the game Gala’s Ben Sluman had a couple of shots on goal but Lewis Brodie kept them out.

Other results: Bromley Heath 2 Ruardean H 4; Frampton v Hanham Ath, abandoned; Patchway T 0 Henbury 3.