Crossword Genius

Topping bit of magic from the goal-scorer? (3,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

hat trick

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'goal-scorer?' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'topping bit of magic from the' is the wordplay.
'topping' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'bit of magic' becomes 'trick' (as in a magic trick).
'from' becomes 'ha' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'the' becomes 't' (the is pronounced as a 't' sound in some dialects).
'ha'+'t'='hat'
'trick' after 'hat' is 'HAT-TRICK'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for hat trick that I've seen before include "Sporting set of three" , "three dismissals" , "Achievement of three successive victories" , "Run of three successes" , "Three-goal feat" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Independent.
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