Four first half goals from Jordon Crawford sent Harborough Town on their way as the Bees hit Coventry Sphinx for six to extend their lead at the top of the table.
The home side looked to get out of the traps early and nearly opened the scoring within ten minutes as Joel Carta’s poked effort was tipped round the post by Keelan Fallows, but the breakthrough came shortly after as Crawford latched onto a Gary Mulligan through-ball to stroke home and put his side ahead.
The visitors looked to reply quicky with two shots in as many minutes from Leo Brown – the first stinging the palms of Elliott Taylor, while the second curled over the top of the bar, but it was Crawford who would have the next say in the game.
He added his second goal by rounding the keeper who had just parried away his initial effort and sealed the hattrick with a powerful strike from an angle that bulged the side netting as the Bees took full control of the match.
A first half to remember for Crawford was capped off on the stroke of half time as he sent Fallows the wrong way from the penalty spot to notch his and Harborough’s fourth.
The Bees started strongly once more after the break, with Amar Sandhu forcing a good save out of Fallows, but Sphinx saw improvements of their own as second half substitute Khaellem Bailey Nicholls fashioned a shooting opportunity but did not have the finish to match.
The goal of the game came from Sandhu, whose venomous strike from range rifled into the bottom corner to put the hosts five goals in front, but another Sphinx substitute, Jac Readhead, reduced the deficit by one as his deflected effort looped over Taylor and into the back of the net.
With the last kick of the game, Johnson Gyamfi restored the five goal advantage by slotting past Fallows from the rebound as Harborough scored six goals in consecutive league matches.
Harborough Town 6 (4)
Crawford (15, 31, 36, 45 Pen) Sandhu (68) Gyamfi (90)
Chelmsford City 1 (0)
Redhead (84)
MOTM: Jordon Crawford
Match Rating: 4
By Cristian Bratu