Third time proved a charm for versatile X- Roads Warriors player Daren Usher, who achieved a career milestone in his team’s emphatic 9-0 victory over Young Men’s Social Club in the Dudley Eve Trophy last Sunday.

Playing higher up the pitch in a more central and attacking role than his regular position at full back, the experienced player bagged a maiden hat-trick to finally get over the last hurdle after two near misses.

“I was happy to get a hat-trick. I’ve come close twice before so it feels good to finally reach that achievement and once I got the second goal I said ‘why not go for the hat-trick’,” Usher told The Royal Gazette.

The 30-year-old has made a smooth transition to X Roads after parting ways with PHC Zebras during the summer transfer window.

“That transition from PHC to X-Roads has been very good. The coaches and players have made it very easy and enjoyable from day one,” he said.

Usher made the difficult decision to part ways with Zebras due to work and school commitments.

“What’s going on in my life outside of football was the biggest deciding factor in me leaving PHC. With school and work, I felt the commitment PHC deserves I couldn’t fully give them,” he said.

“It was never an easy decision to leave PHC and it’s actually something I’ve been fighting internally for the last two to three years.

“But I won’t say that’s the end of my time at PHC. That is home for me and God willing I hope I can one day return and play in the Zebra stripes again.”

Usher was one of two former PHC players, the other being Paul Simons, who scored hat-tricks against Social Club in a big win for X-Roads, who booked their spot in the Dudley Eve Trophy semi-finals.

Danavon Thompson (2) and a Kristian Singh own goal accounted for Warriors’ other strikes.