Dylan Stitt scored a hat-trick to help the U21s emphatically overcome Billericay Town with a 7-0 win at The Brache

Stitt’s three goals were in the mix of a brace from Samuel Hincapie-Alfonso and strikes from Tate Xavier-Jones and Benny Benagr as the Hatters ran riot.

With consecutive 1-0 victories over Cambridge United and Barnet in the last month for Alex Lawless’ side, with both providing the opportunity of match fitness for Town hero Elijah Adebayo and recent signing Sverre Sandal, the game against Billericay allowing another chance for the youngsters to get valuable game time.

The side got off to the best possible start when Stitt opened the scoring in the first couple of minutes, a superb ball from the left courtesy of Benagr making it all the way through to the back post, allowing the attacking midfielder to smash home. It didn’t take long for the Hatters to double their advantage when Xavier-Jones collected the ball on the edge of the box before shuffling into space to fire an excellent strike low into the corner of the net.

It was three at the break, this time with Stitt turning provider as the midfielder raced away from the Billericay defence, unselfishly squaring the ball across the box for Benagr to roll the ball into an empty net.

With a plethora of changes made at the break by lead coach Lawless, it didn’t take long for Town to find their fourth, with Stitt netting his second goal before the hour mark. The midfielder collected the ball and worked his way into the box, his effort on goal deflected into the net via an outstretched leg of a Billericay defender.

Minutes later it was five, Hincapie-Alfonso found himself fouled in the area, stepping up himself to convert the subsequent penalty with excellent composure. Town had their sixth as Stitt netted his third of the game, this time the midfielder managed to nick the ball high up the pitch before marauding away to cooly slot his finish into the back of the net.

The Hatters secured their seventh when Hincapie-Alfonso netted his second, wrapping the game up as the ball from Benagr ricocheted into the path of the forward who stuck out a leg to help divert the effort past the goalkeeper from just a few yards out.

TOWN: Booth (sub Gold 45), Roberts-Edema, Paternoster (sub Pagano 45), Chigozie (sub El Gourja 64), Source, Fox, Lorentzen-Jones (sub Evans 45), Stitt, Shepherd, Benagr, Xavier-Jones (sub Hincapie-Alfonso 45)

Match Report: Liam Wilmot