JACK DOCHERTY says this is the best he’s seen Sauchie since he joined as he praised his teammates for the momentum they’re building.

Docherty’s second half hat-trick on Saturday helped Sauchie on their way to a 4-0 victory over Inverkeithing and the club now sit third in the table.

Speaking exclusively to Advertiser Sport, Docherty said: “We were brilliant. It’s hard to describe but we’ve been brilliant for the last few weeks and the momentum’s really picking up.

“We’re in a really good place just now and the performances are showing that. Another clean sheet and four goals so we’re really happy with the performance.”

A red card for Inverkeithing’s Lewis Hynd gave Sauchie a boost but Docherty says Fraser Duncan’s half-time message was just to keep on playing their football.

Docherty said: “[The manager told us to] just to keep doing what we were doing really.

“It was a tough first half but we were the ones wanting to play football, we weren’t panicking so it was just a case of pressing a bit higher and keeping the ball on the deck and play our football and eventually the chances will come.

“That’s what happened and we got four goals in the second half.

“The red card obviously helps, it picks our momentum up as well with them dropping down to 10 men and I think from then it was only a matter of time before we got our goals so I think it was coming regardless.”

Docherty hopes his contribution help him keep a steady place in the starting squad.

“I’m really chuffed,” he said. “I feel like it’s a long time coming to be honest. My playing time’s been a bit inconsistent because of the team being brilliant these last few weeks.

“In training I’ve just been getting my head down, trying to cement my place in the team and get back on the scoresheet. I’ve done that so hopefully I can kick on from here.”

Sauchie travel to Glasgow United in the Challenge Cup this weekend before the Scottish Cup tie against Linlithgow Rose.

Docherty said: “I don’t want to say too much and jinx it but we’re in a really good place at the minute.

“The guys are buzzing and I’ve probably not seen [the mood] better up here ever to be honest with the momentum of the guys, everybody fighting for their place and now we’re getting the results that we deserve.

“I think on our day there’s not many teams that will beat us, we’re brilliant all over the park. With the momentum picking up it’s going to be really hard to stop us so hopefully we can just keep kicking on.

“As long as we can keep this run up until the [Scottish Cup] game we can’t ask for much more but we just need to take it a game at a time and, hopefully, when it comes we’re still in this good place.”