HAT-TRICK hero Daniel Holloway has decided to spend the rest of this season with Slimbridge.

The striker has featured for the club occasionally during this campaign while also playing for Westfields in the Midland Football Alliance, but will now be available to manager Leon Sterling on a more regular basis.

It is a big boost for Sterling as star striker Jamie Martin has a two match ban looming for his red card against Highworth and influential midfielder Fred Ward, who was sent off against Flackwell Heath, has received a three match ban.

This Saturday’s game at home to Ascot United (3pm) will see the return of Shane Anson from suspension and Mike Bryant will be available again.

It was a measure of the strange nature of Slimbridge’s game against Abingdon that Holloway’s treble was eclipsed by Swans goalkeeper Dave Evans’ crucial saves.

On a bumpy pitch which passed a lunchtime inspection, it was the visitors who made the early running, with Lance Williams testing Evans.

Slimbridge took the lead on 20 minutes after a misplaced clearance from Harry Hobbs found Alex Higgs on the edge of the Abingdon box and he neatly lobbed the stranded keeper.

The visitors continued to look dangerous, though, Jamie Munday’s shot bringing an excellent save from Dave Evans, who made another impressive stop from Mark Janes.

Two minutes later, the equaliser arrived when more neat passing from the visitors left Jamie Munday in space, and he levelled the scores with a good finish.

Slimbridge steadied themselves, and regained the lead on 37 minutes. After good work by Higgs down the right flank, Holloway’s deft footwork created some space for himself in the Abingdon box, and he beat Hobbs with ease.

With two minutes remaining in the first half, the ball fell to Marvyn Roberts outside the Abingdon box, and his classy lob cleared the desperately backtracking Hobbs to make the score 3-1 at the interval.

The game was effectively over following a quick-fire double from Holloway. On 52 minutes he picked up a cross from the left flank, beat his marker and drilled the ball home to put the Swans 4-1 up.

Three minutes later, Martin was bundled over in the box by Hobbs, and Holloway coolly dispatched the penalty to register his treble.

Slimbridge could have added to their tally when Ryan Seville played in Danny Chandler, who failed to keep his feet when bearing down on goal.

In the last ten minutes, Evans was again called into action, making three crucial stops.

He was finally beaten in the last minute, when an absolutely superb piledriver from Adam Lovegrove gave him no chance.

The result sees Slimbridge maintain their position in fifth spot.