Hat-trick moves Stead into double figures
MIDFIELDER Louis Stead crept into double figures for the season with a hat-trick for Northwood on Saturday – and it could so easily have been four.
The former North Greenford United and Chalfont St Peter midfielder also made it nine goals in his last four games for the Wood, having bagged braces in the wins over Petersfield and Histon, and the draw against Kempston Rovers.
Stead gave Northwood the lead at Dorking Wanderers in the FA Trophy preliminary round with a neat curling strike, while Ryan Debattista doubled their lead from the rebound after Louis Bircham’s shot was parried by the home keeper.
Bircham got in on the act with a deflected effort on the half hour mark before Dorking pulled one back, while after the break Stead saw a spot kick saved, although James Burgess headed home from the resulting corner.
Stead then burst through to make it 5-1 and although Dorking made the Wood sweat by pulling back two quick goals, Stead completed his hat-trick 10 minutes from time to complete a 6-3 win and book a first qualifying round tie at Royston on October 29.
Joining them in the next round will be Uxbridge, who will host Harlow Town on the same day after dispatching of AFC Dunstable 4-0.
Matty Woods and Adonaker Eisa both marked their returns from injury with goals, while Ossie Sillah bagged a debut strike and Anthony Thomas completed the scoring.
Over in the Combined Counties Premier, Jordan Berry’s equaliser earned AFC Hayes a point in their 1-1 draw against fellow strugglers Sutton Common Rovers, while in Spartan South Midlands Division One, goals from Cristian Barrett, Steven Green and Luke Baldwin gave Harefield United a 3-0 win over Arlesey Town Reserves.
Hillingdon Borough were held 1-1 by Broadfield United, despite a Dan Mehmet strike.