PEGASUS Juniors produced a whirlwind second-half performance to blow away Ellesmere Rangers on Saturday, to make it back-to-back 8-0 victories and send them top of the West Midlands League Premier Division.

But despite their sterling efforts, manager Chris Hyde insisted: “Just because we’ve won two games 8-0, it doesn’t mean we’re one of the best sides in the league.

“We’re not that good and I don’t want the players to believe their own publicity.”

Chris’ son Cory scored a hat-trick to follow his five goals against Wellington four days previously, but admitted: “My dad never gives me praise, I get more praise from my mum.

“Dad and I don’t really speak, we just stay out of each other’s way,” said the 27-year-old.

His father added: “It’s not all about Cory, he may have scored eight in two games but Chris Mortlock warrants a lot of the credit,” said the manager.

Cory admitted that his strike partner does deserve some of the plaudits. “Mortlock is by far the best striker I’ve ever played with and I wouldn’t score the goals if it wasn’t for him.”

After Cory’s five goals against Wellington including three penalties, he joked: “That’s probably the first time I’ve scored five other than down the Bishops Meadow playing Wembley with my mates. It’s definitely the first time I’ve scored three penalties, though.”

Asked whether he is playing the best football of his life, Cory admitted: “I think it’s just down to the chances being created by Ben Price and Keith Jones.

“They make it easy for me and I’m just striking while the iron’s hot.”

Pegasus dominated the match against Ellesmere but almost found themselves behind when a 25-yard free-kick from Brody Milligan trickled wide.

Price and Tom Dawson both missed golden opportunities for Juniors and five minutes before the break, Ellesmere almost punished them.

A Steve O’Reilly corner was met by Chris Green who struck the bar, with Dan Graham turning into the net before the linesman signalled for offside.

But on the stroke of half- time, Price chipped Lee Davis from 30 yards to put Pegasus ahead.

The second period saw the hosts run riot as Hyde slipped the ball through for Price who doubled his side’s lead just two minutes in.

Hyde was again provider when his corner was met by Mowen who thumped in a header.

Hyde was struggling to find the net until the 72nd minute, when he was one-on-one with the keeper, and despite having looked to have missed his chance, he kept his cool, dribbling the ball around several defenders before slotting home.

He then picked out substitute Kane Kahaki who delightfully chipped the keeper to make it 5-0, and another sub, new signing Anthony Robbins, produced some nifty footwork in the box to find Kahaki who returned the favour for Hyde, smashing in the sixth.

Mortlock forced Davis into making a couple of decent saves but Hyde set up Jones whose sublime chip made the score 7-0.

Jones then delivered a super cross-field ball to find Kahaki in space and he unselfishly squared for Hyde to tap in his hat-trick.

“I’d have been happy with a scrappy 1-0 win before the game,” said manager Chris.

“In previous games we haven’t had any impetus from the bench but at 4-0 up, I had four class players to turn to on the bench.

“It’s really important to keep clean sheets and we’ve had three in our four games so far and the other was a 2-1, which I’m really disappointed about.

“I do a lot of reading on coaching across many sports and it’s all about the accumulation of minimal gain – you try and achieve more goals and let more come along. “A manager is only as good as his players and at the moment I’m a very good manager because I have players who are performing very well,” added Hyde.

“I’ve known some of these boys a long time and I just want to do the best we can with them. I’d like to think we could do better than last year, whether it’s one or two places higher.”