Hat-trick man Duane Ofori-Acheampong likes what he’s seen at Sittingbourne.

The striker is almost halfway through a one-month loan from National South club Hungerford as he looks to build fitness.

Saturday’s treble in a 4-2 Isthmian South East win at East Grinstead took his tally to four goals in three games, having got off the mark in the 2-1 midweek defeat at Hastings.

Ofori-Acheampong is used to higher levels, counting Torquay, Dover, Dartford and Woking among his former clubs.

But he’s been impressed with Sittingbourne, who he feels are capable of a play-off challenge under manager Darren Blackburn.

Ironically, it was their performance in defeat at Hastings, after Marvin Hamilton’s early red card, that convinced the big forward of their potential.

“It’s a good set-up,” he said. “Everyone’s cool, I already knew a few of the boys, I’d spoken to Daz previously and he’s a top guy, so it made sense to come here.

“They’ve had some good results this season, there’s a feeling they should have more points but I think they have enough about them to get into the play-offs.

“The first two games I played we got nothing out of them but we had to battle hard, especially at Hastings where we were down to 10 men and I saw great character from the boys, in terms of everyone digging in.

“Everyone was battling and pulling in the right direction and tracking back - that game showed me the players are committed and want to fight for the team.

“That was good to see because I didn’t come out on loan to lose games, that’s never enjoyable.”

Ofori-Acheampong joined Hungerford, who are sixth in National South, about a month-and-a-half ago.

In-form forwards restricted his game time and he convinced manager Danny Robinson to let him out on loan.

His intention is to return to Berkshire fit and firing.

“It’s difficult to get fitness playing 20 minutes here and there,” said Ofori-Acheampong, 28.

“The gaffer didn’t want me to go out on loan to start with but then he saw it made sense.

“I’ve come here and played three games in a week.

“To be fair, I was feeling it at half-time in the last game but I’ve got a rest this week before we play on Saturday.

“I’ve got to be careful I don’t over-do it. I have to listen to my body, but you can’t beat playing football, and it was good to get the hat-trick.

“I should have had a few more goals but I’ll take the hat-trick.

“That’s the plan, to get match fitness and score some goals, and then see where we’re at after the month.

“The boys at Hungerford have had a great start to the season and the forwards are doing well.

“It’s always good to go to a team where there’s a bit of competition but I don’t really want to be sitting on the bench again. I want to be playing games.”

Sittingbourne are Ofori-Acheampong’s third Kent club, following spells with Dover and Dartford.

He made the National League play-offs under Chris Kinnear at Crabble, bowing out in the semi-finals at Forest Green, and helped Darts to the National South play-offs a year later.

“I had two good runs and just missed out on Wembley with Dover in that Forest Green game,” he said.

“Again, game time was the only thing at Dover but I really enjoyed my time at Dartford.

“It’s a great club, the best club I’ve played for in Kent, with great fans and the people behind the scenes looked after me from day one.”

Ofori-Acheampong sat out last night’s 2-1 Velocity Trophy defeat at Tooting & Mitcham.

He’ll be back in the side this Saturday when Sittingbourne take on in-form Kent rivals Ramsgate at Woodstock.