NATHAN Minhas scored a hat-trick in Bracknell Town's 4-0 win over Ashford Town on Saturday and admitted: "Everything is going great so far," writes Dave Wright.

He also had a hand in the other goal scored by Max Herbert in a match the Robins could so easily have won by a much bigger margin.

The former Ascot United hot-shot, who had opened his account for the Robins in the previous Monday's 2-2 draw at Northwood, showed his poacher's instincts with his goals coming inside Ashford's six-yard box.

"Obviously, I was pleased with my hat-trick, but credit must go the boys for setting them up," he told the News as he left the field holding the match ball.

"I got a bit frustrated at not scoring in the first two games, but I told myself they will come and I got one last Monday and a hat-trick aganist Ashford and I am sure many more will come as well."

Minhas said he was "very pleased" to have joined Bracknell, adding: "I am really enjoying it here and could not ask for anything more.

"The coaches, the fans, everything has been great so far.

"I am looking forward to a really big season and I'm really looking forward to it and hopefully scoring more goals."

Minhas has set himself a modest-looking target of at least two goals per month.

"That will give me 20 to 25 goals by the end of the season, but it would good if I can get more," he stated.

"I have done alright in the first month, but then there might be a month or two when I could have a bit of a goal drought."

Manager Sam Lock believes there is a lot more to come from Minhas, saying: "Nathan is still nowhere near his best. I am very pleased with him, but he will play better than he did on Saturday.

"He scored a hat-trick, but could easily have had four or five goals."

Lock also signed experienced striker Marcus Mealing last weekend, a striker who has played for a number of Hellenic League clubs and who started this season with Knaphill in the Combined Counties League.

He said he needed to strengthen his strikers' unit as Lee Barney, whom he signed from Hayes & Yeading in the summer, has a knee problem – "potentially ligament trouble" – which could keep him sidelined until after Christmas, while Shane Cooper-Clark, who joined from Thatcham Town, is currently nursing a foot injury.

Bracknell are expecting a big gate when they host Isthmian League Premier Division side Carshalton Athletic in the FA Cup at Larges Lane this Saturday (3pm).

"They are a top side," commented Lock. "They have a huge budget and some very good players.

"We will go into the tie as underdogs, but we are at home and will go into the game confident. The team will be set up to give us the best chance of getting a positive result."

l BRACKNELL have received FA Charter Standard Club accreditation for this season, the highest honour a non-league club can receive.

It is awarded to clubs and leagues 'rigorously adjudged to be well-run and sustainable – and which prioritise child protection, quality coaching and implementation of the Respect programme.'

Town chairman Kayne Steinborn-Busse has given the credit to club secretary and welfare officer Ricky Simons, saying: "His hard work over the last 12 months has paid off with this award."