Tom Eaves scored a second-half hat trick for Shrewsbury Town against Crawley Town

Tom Eaves, on loan to Shrewsbury Town from Bolton Wanderers, continued his excellent scoring run for Salop as his team took on Crawley Town in League One action. Shrewsbury are still battling for League One survival and Tom Eaves is doing his best to help the cause.

The first half was a scoreless affair in which Eaves was kept largely quiet by the Crawley Town defense that featured former Bolton Wanderers youngster Mark Connolly. The breakthrough would come for Eaves on the 48 minute mark. Eaves gathered the ball on the edge of the penalty area and blasted home, hitting the top left corner of the ball. Slightly less than 20 minutes later, Tom Eaves would double up. This time, it was an excellent solo effort for the 21-year-old that saw him beat a number of Crawley defenders before slotting home from inside the area. Eaves' third and final goal of the day came five minutes from time, again from the outside of the area, but this time finding the opposite top corner.

The goals sets Eaves' total return for Shrewsbury Town at six goals in eight games. Five of those goals have come in the space of the last four games. His loan will run to the end of the season. The win against Crawley Town moved Shrewsbury Town a massive seven points clear of the drop zone.