Dandy Town Hornets, the league leaders, started the new year just as they finished the last.

Town recorded their biggest win of the season after thrashing injury-hit Devonshire Colts 8-3 in a lopsided make-up match at St John’s Field yesterday to stretch their lead to nine points over nearest rivals Robin Hood.

Jomar Wilkinson, the Town coach, praised his players’ efforts during the first half of the season, but was quick to remind them that there is still plenty of work to be done if they are to secure an eighth league title and third in five seasons.

“I think we did a fantastic job in the first half of the season, but it’s not over,” Wilkinson said. “We wanted to make sure we got off to a good start this season as we know how last season went for us.

“I’m really proud of the boys’ first-half performance and eager to get the second half off to a good start as well.”

Town have notched 36 goals this season, the most scored by any side, and also boast the best defensive record having only conceded eight.

Wilkinson said improving defensively is one of the team’s top priorities.

“Our goal is to be better defensively this season, and so far we’ve done that,” he said. “We realise that goals win games, but defence wins championships so we wanted to improve.

“The boys definitely improved the first half and hopefully we can take it into the second half.”

Damon Ming, a former Colts player, led Town’s charge with his first hat-trick at the senior level.

“I knew it was going to be a slick game, so I just worked hard for everything,” Ming said. “The ball was dropping in certain places and I was just there to put it away.

“My new year’s resolution is to try and get ten goals in the second half. I have three already and so I’m looking to build on that and help my team in anyway possible.

“We haven’t lost in the league yet and we are looking to keep building on that. We are just taking it one game at a time and building our confidence right now.”

Wilkinson was delighted his experiment of having Ming leading the line paid off.

“We choose to play Damon at number nine today and it paid dividends,” Wilkinson said. “We worked on a few things in training and thought his movement and speed to get in behind was going to be critical and he showed that today.”

Hornets remaining goals came from Fabian Frankson, Angelo Simmons, Kwonde Lathan, substitute Seion Darrell and an own goal. Colts replied through a Eli Smith, substitute Clevelyn Crichlow and a Lathan own goal.

Wilkinson admitted his team’s margin of victory was surprising given Colts’ impressive return to the top flight.

“I was expecting a tougher match,” he said. “I think the conditions played a big part in the match.

“We got off to a good start and we can never underestimate Devonshire Colts. We came with a game plan and the boys executed it well.”

n BAA will play their third game in five days tomorrow when they take on Young Men’s Social Club in the First Division.

With the majority of a young BAA squad appearing in both the First Division Shield final on Friday, and the PDL final yesterday, the team return to league action aiming to go one better than last season when they missed out on promotion by one point.

The game, at Goose Gosling Field, kicks off at 7pm.