HAT-TRICK hero Ross Crawford was on cloud nine after firing Sauchie to a 5-2 win over strugglers Burntisland Shipyard.

The 20-year-old made it ten goals since his switch to the Wee County to help the Reds to a crucial three points in their bid to seal promotion from the East of Scotland League.

Sauchie sit one point behind Crossgates Primrose – but have played a game more – with three games left of the season.

"We started the game really well and scored four goals in the first half an hour," Crawford told Advertiser Sport. "We let it slip, but then killed it off in the second half.

"It was great to get a hat-trick and it's the second of my season now, but I couldn't have done it without the support of the other boys.

"They are the ones who get me the ball and find me in the right positions."

He added: "I'm starting to find form at the right time, which is brilliant.

"When I first joined, it took me a while to find my feet and I wasn't scoring as much as I would have liked.

"But, now I am starting to score more and starting to enjoy it a lot more. I am playing my best football that I have done for ages, so that's really pleasing."

The timely win snapped Sauchie's two-game losing streak and resurrected their outside hopes of securing a place in the top-five.

The Reds welcome Dunipace to Beechwood tomorrow night and could have leapfrogged Crossgates with a win.

Crawford continued: "It was great to bounce back after the last few weeks.

"We haven't done ourselves justice in the last few weeks with the results and the performances.

"So we knew we had to get a result and put in a good performance. Hopefully, now we can kick on for the last few games and finish as high as possible.

"We are confident and know we can win all of the games if we turn up on the day and apply ourselves in the right way.

"The group is really positive just now and there is nothing negative at all."