Shane Sutherland is revelling in his new hat-trick habit after grabbing the first two of his career within two weeks of each other.
The former Caley Thistle and Peterhead attacker scored three in the 6-0 win against Berwick which underlined City’s title credentials on Saturday.
The treble followed a goal in the 4-1 thrashing of Montrose last weekend and a four-goal haul a fortnight ago against Hawick in the Scottish Cup.
Sutherland said: “It was all about the result – and it was great to win 6-0 and do so quite comfortably.
“To score another three was nice. I hadn’t scored a hat-trick in my career until two weeks ago against Hawick in the Scottish Cup. To get another one a couple of weeks later is great for me.”
Sutherland was named Elgin City man of the match for the third game running. Those performances have all come in home victories with 18 goals scored in total by the team and eight by Sutherland to take his season’s tally in all competitions to 17.
The forward was quick to share praise with his team-mates, though, stressing he only helped put away the chances their good play created.
He said: “Every single player was tremendous. You could have given the man of the match to any one of them.”
Elgin’s next two games fall against the other two teams in the top three, Forfar above and Arbroath below them.
They visit the in-form Red Lichties first and then then host Forfar in the New Year – two big games which Sutherland doesn’t see as having a decisive bearing on who wins the league.
He said: “We’ve got a tough one at Arbroath next week and then a break for Christmas, then Forfar.
“There is no denying these are two big games, but they will not win or lose the league. We’ll take each one as it comes. We go into the games with confidence high on the back of a 6-0 win and a good run of results.”
