Shayne Hollis has started the season like a veritable scoring machine after plundering four goals in successive matches for North Village.

This time it was Devonshire Colts on the receiving end of the diminutive striker’s lethal finishing, with Hollis helping himself to a first-half hat-trick to put Village firmly in control at Bernard Park yesterday.

The 27-year-old took his tally to eight for the season, having also destroyed Boulevard with a four-goal blitz in the last weekend’s Premier Division opener at Police Field.

“I’m playing well and I’m just trying to keep it going,” Hollis said.

“The chances keep falling for me and I’m doing my best to take them.”

Hollis, who scored just five goals last season, put his potency in front of goal down to the coaching methods of new incumbent Devarr Boyles and the hard work of his team-mates.

“I think it starts from the top and my coach has instilled motivation in all of the players and has faith in me,” Hollis added.

“Devarr is a very intelligent coach and he’s really inspired everyone. Hopefully the goals can keep coming for me.”

Hollis cancelled out Deandre Wainwright’s first-minute opener with a twelfth-minute penalty after winger Demetre Daniels had been fouled by defender Justin Maybury.

Village went ahead in the 23rd minute when Hollis curled in a superb effort after cutting in from the left and completed his hat-trick just before half-time with a volley after Colts had half cleared a corner.

His fourth came early in the second half, tucking the ball past goalkeeper Gregory Rose from close range, before defender Kyle Knights slid home for Village’s fifth in the 79th minute.

Kyle Jones, the Colts striker, scored an 81st-minute consolation goal with a superb volley of his own after he was picked out on the edge of box from a corner.

Devonshire Cougars pulled off an upset at St John’s Field to record their first win of the season with first-half goals from Machi Battersbee and Kijuan Franks against the defending champions. Angelo Simmons, the Town captain, pulled one back soon after the restart.

“They’re learning as they go,” Omar Butterfield, the Cougars coach, said. “Our minds were made up that we were coming for three points today.

“We had a good week in training so confidence was up. People know we’re a team with a winning mentality and we’re trying to implement that into this new group. We’ve lost nine players from last season, but we a good foundation and it’s showing. Most of these guys came up through Cougars’ ranks.”

Newly promoted Somerset Eagles opened their season with a 2-0 defeat at Police Field against Boulevard, who halted their three-game losing streak in the Dudley Eve Trophy and league.

“We went three games without a victory but have got stronger each game and created more opportunities,” Shawki Worrell, the Boulevard coach, said.

“We played even better today, completely dominated the game and were happy to get two goals, albeit a bit late. We’re happy to walk away with our first win and excited to have got a clean sheet.”