FC CLACTON hat-trick hero Max Booth admitted being on cloud nine after his first-half treble against shell-shocked Godmanchester Rovers.

The frontman notched three goals in just nine sensational minutes as the Thurlow Nunn League title-chasers were blown away at the Rush Green Bowl.

Godmanchester pulled a couple back after the break but further strikes from Jake Clowsley and Adam Hampson, deep in stoppage time, completed a memorable afternoon for Tom Austin’s side.

“I’m still buzzing,” said former Stanway Pegasus goal king Booth.

“It was an incredible afternoon both for me and the team and hat-tricks don’t come along that often, unless you’re Lionel Messi.

“They’re even less common when all the goals come in a handful of minutes and it was amazing the way things panned out.

“It’s certainly my quickest-ever hat-trick and, as a team, we played some brilliant football.

“I’ve always been capable of scoring goals but now I’m finding a level of consistency.

“I’m learning all the time, feeling really confident and it’s helping me become a better player.”

Saturday’s success followed a 3-2 victory at more high-flying opposition in Kirkley and Pakefield, the previous Saturday.

They are ninth in the table after Tuesday’s dramatic 2-1 victory at struggling Great Yarmouth Town.

Next up they travel to Woodbridge Town on Saturday before a rearranged home match against Haverhill Rovers next Tuesday.

“The only drawback last weekend was conceding three sloppy goals, because we should have won 5-0,” added Booth.

“Even so, that doesn’t take the gloss off another outstanding result and the football we played in the first half was the best since I’ve been at Clacton.

“We dominated from the first whistle, pressed and created chances.

“We’re beating top teams and that shows how far we’ve come.

“Now we’ve got to keep it going and with games in hand, there’s no reason why we can’t finish in the top ten.

“There are a lot of talented boys in our squad, in addition to an amazing bond and team spirit. It’s about finding that level of consistency, both individually and collectively.

“We’ve also got more strength in depth now, having signed the likes of Billy Wales.

“Hampy (Adam Hampson) and Karl (Andrade) were on the bench on Saturday and that shows where we’re at in terms of the quality in our squad.”

Hampson and Andrade were on target at Yarmouth.