Goal-machine Matt Dixon has been hailed as irreplaceable by boss Mark Scott after his hat trick helped Thetford Town thump Stowmarket Town 4-1 on Saturday.

Ridgeons First Division top scorer Dixon - who has scored 20 goals in 19 league games this season - fired his side to a comfortable victory as Thetford continued their title charge.

The red-hot frontman has bagged 10 goals in his side’s last five matches and Scott insists the striker’s form is vital to his team’s promotion hopes.

The Thetford boss said: “Matt is proven at a higher level than what we’re playing at and he scores goals.

“His finishing and goalscoring record is almost second to none but he brings an awful lot else to the team too. He’s a quick thinker and he’s developed a fine understanding with our other players.

“He’s a confident lad who believes in his own ability. His vision - as part of our three-year plan - is to help us get promotion. That’s the level we want to get to and I’m sure he could more than match anybody in that league.

“Credit has to be given to the rest of the squad because they know the runs he makes. They trust and believe in him and he knows that our midfielders can find him with their outstanding range of passing.

“He’s a key player for us and I wouldn’t swap him for any striker in this division. He’s better than many in the Premier Division too in my eyes.

“If he remains injury free and he keeps in this frame of mind he could be the difference between us winning the league or finishing runners up.”

Dixon has been Thetford’s top scorer for the past two seasons since he joined from Diss Town. He has also played for Needham Market.

A win for Scott’s side over Cambridge University Press last night would see them return to the top of the table in a week where promotion rivals Whitton United and March Town United both failed to win. Thetford travel to Debenham LC on Saturday aiming to continue their four-game unbeaten league run.

Scott said: “We’ve worked really hard to put a few things right and we’re nearly back to our best but we won’t be taking any side lightly - there are no easy games in this division.

“There’s still better to come from one or two of the lads but we’re looking forward to every game and they’re coming thick and fast now.

“We just need to keep getting the wins, however they come. We’ve simply got ten cup finals left in the league in order to gain promotion and hopefully do so by winning the title.”