BOSS John Edwards’s pre-match confidence was spot on as Littleton bashed Studley 4-1 on Monday.

Hotshot Dan Carter plundered a hat-trick, pouncing twice in the first 20 minutes courtesy of some slack defending by the visitors.

Dan Byford drove towards the box before rolling out to Robbie Agar whose cutback was tucked in by Carter from point-blank range four minutes in.

Dave Edwards had a header cleared off the line by Luke English only for Carter to slam the rebound past Young to put the Ton Boys in control.

Studley wilted in the heat and could have been further behind prior to a moment to forget for visiting keeper Ryan Young just past the hour.

Shay Palmer’s driven cross fizzed high across goal with the custodian missing the ball that nestled in the top corner.

Carter was set free to lob Young one-on-one 17 minutes from time, bringing up his 44th goal of the season with Eddie Wynne-Wilson’s clever free-kick proving scant consolation.

Littleton’s Dan Holloway pelted the post with an unorthodox free-kick across goal in added time but ta third straight victory was never in doubt.

“With the heat as it was, all we asked was for the lads to put in the effort,” said Edwards.

“We felt we had more quality than Studley and that showed in the end. The pitch was difficult and while it was not a great performance, the lads did enough.”

Carter also notched a treble in Saturday’s 3-2 victory over Leicester Road. Palmer (2), Robbie Bunn and Jordan Jones struck in a 4-0 win at Bolehall Swifts on Thursday.

The Ton Boys finish the Midland Football League Division One campaign with a home clash against Racing Club Warwick, the team guaranteed to finish fifth, on Saturday (1pm).

Edwards’s charges will finish eighth if they match or better Studley’s result at home to Chelmsley Town, a match to be played on Friday.

Littleton: B Bunn, Palmer, M Edwards, Fitter, Dave Edwards, Byford, R Bunn (Holloway, 65), Jones, Carter, Agar (Clarke, 78), Dale Edwards. Unused subs: Bates, Westwood.

Attendance: 65.