Eto'o Bags Three for Villans

Samuel Eto'o was the hat-trick hero for Erdington Villans as they comprehensively beat Chester Rats in their Gold Cup Group B match which had been hyped as a clash of the titans.

However Rats' manager Jamie Cook will be scratching his head at how his team was beaten so soundly in this match between two heavyweights in the top 5 of the UFFA rankings; despite seemingly having more of the game it was Richie Birchall's Villans who took a decisive step towards qualification from the group.

Striker Eto'o was in devastating form in front of goal, and opened the scoring by volleying in Ashley Young's cross in the 10th minute. Chester Rats then pressed for an equaliser, with playmaker Carlos Vela at the heart of much of their attacking moves and opposition goalkeeper Jorge Villalpando was kept busy. But when it looked like the home team's efforts would bear fruit, up popped Eto'o to break their hearts with two poacher's goals in the last 5 minutes. He took advantage of some shocking Rats' defending to score in the 85th minute, and then completed his hat trick following a slick one-two move in the 89th.

Chester Rats will have to start winning if they are to have any hope of qualifying from Group B, while the Villans look to be in imperious form.