Wolves reaffirmed their promotion credentials after thrashing X-Roads in the First Division at Devonshire Recreation Club last night.

Sergio Richardson plundered a hat-trick while his strike partner Kyle Brangman bagged a brace for the rampant home side.

Wolves struck five goals in the first half — three in the final five minutes — as X-Roads suffered a complete capitulation against their high-flying opponents, who climbed to second in the table behind runaway leaders Boulevard.

Torry Davis, the Wolves player-coach, gave his side the lead in the seventeenth minute before Richardson grabbed his opening goal in the 35th.

Further goals before half-time from Richardson and two from Brangman left X-Roads with a proverbial mountain to climb in the second half.

Wolves were reduced to ten men when Lamelle Paynter was handed his second yellow card in the 65th, but not before Richardson had made it 6-0 on the hour mark with a neat finish from an acute angle.

Steven Bremar completed the rout with a dipping shot from distance, although X-Roads did at least manage to register a goal late on through Tristan Daniels.

Davis, the Wolves player-coach, said that his side’s goal-laden performance had been the best his team had played since he took over the coaching reins midway through last season.

“Since the beginning of the season, I’ve talked to my players about playing together and building our chemistry, and tonight we did that,” said Davis, whose side were relegated last season.

“It all came together for us tonight and every player was excellent.

“We’re pushing for promotion and we want to make it hard for all of our rivals.”

Davis said that he believed that dropping down a division had been blessing in disguise for his side.

“[Relegation] has allowed us to rebuild and we’ve tried to build a chemistry around our core bunch of players.

“We’ve got to keep our foot on the pedal now and keep on it until Christmas.”

Tuff Dogs, of the Corona League, take on Young Men’s Social Club, of the First Division, at Devonshire Recreation Club tonight in an FA Cup preliminary round replay at 8pm.