Six-hit Hallett makes it 13 in two games

That took the experienced striker’s tally to 13 in two games, for despite scoring seven against Takeley in the Essex Senior Cup last Tuesday he was not able to make the team for Saturday’s league match against Met Police.

If Hallett (pictured in Concord's blue change strip by Gavin Ellis) felt he had a point to make, it took him just 33 seconds to make it with his opener and he was on target again in the fifth minute. Two more followed in the 31st and 36th minutes, and it is no exaggeration to say that he could have had at least three more.

Poor Redbridge, trailing 4-0, then saw Concord bring on Tony Stokes, top of the Ryman Premier scorecharts, at the start of the second half. They held out for 14 minutes before Hallett got his fifth. Stokes then chipped in with the sixth and Hallett had a 65th-minute penalty saved, though he converted the rebound for his 13th goal in 143 minutes of playing time!

Stokes made it 8-0 with 17 minutes left but double figures eluded the Beachboys. Sammy Knott scored his first goal for the club in the 86th minute to complete the scoring, Concord’s 28th goal in four games.

Hallett’s feat overshadowed that of Danny Carr, who scored four times for Dulwich as they beat Herne Bay 5-1 at Champion Hill. Two of them came in the first 21 minutes, the only goals of the first half.

Billy Bennett put the visitors back in the game immediately after the break but Green struck twice in three minutes around the hour mark to put Dulwich in complete command. Ellis Green added a late fifth.

When you are in danger of frittering away a 4-0 lead, as Hastings were in their home game with Three Bridges, it would seem a risky time to give a debut to a 48-year-old.

But when that 48-year-old is Gary Abbott, perhaps the greatest non-league footballer of the past 30 years, it might be another matter and Abbott wasted little time in scoring the goal which put the result beyond doubt.

Scott McDonald had put Hastings ahead after five minutes, Bailo Camara added another on the half-hour and further goals from Dee Okojie and Danny Ellis made it 4-0 at half-time. That was very harsh on the visitors, who had certainly not been outclassed, and they proceeded to prove it after the interval.

Marlon Maxwell opened their account after 56 minutes, Tom Bold’s 18-yard drive reduced the arrears further ten minutes later and Charlie Cooke’s strike from much further out made it 4-3 with 20 minutes left. Camara calmed Hastings’ nerves with his second of the night two minutes later and Abbott’s 86th-minute goal settled it, even though Joel O’Hara immediately replied to make the final score 6-4.

Only one club from the lower divisions managed to defeat Premier opposition. That was Soham, who led virtually throughout their game at Leiston. Robbie Mason scored after six minutes and there were 89 on the clock when Gareth Heath saved the Premier side with a penalty. That meant more penalties, and Soham held their nerve to take the shoot-out 5-3.

There was one other potential shoot-out giant-killing but the Premier side survived as Thurrock beat Brentwood 4-3 after a goalless draw at Ship Lane.

Wroxham saw off Ryman North rivals Needham Market by the same score on penalties after the match itself finished 1-1. Sam Newson scored for the Marketmen in the 64th minute and Matt Blake levelled it in the 78th.

It almost went to a shoot-out at Witham, but two late, late goals gave holders Bury a 4-2 victory. Craig Parker put Bury ahead shortly before half-time, Witham levelled through Rob Whitnell in the 63rd minute and then did it again ten minutes later with a Scott Pethers goal just after Sam Reed had put Bury 2-1 up. Lee Reed put Bury ahead again in the 90th minute and Sam Reed nabbed his second well into added time.

Wealdstone came from behind to win 2-1 at Carshalton, who went ahead with a fluke goal in the 28th minute when Hakeem Adelakun’s free-kick from close to the halfway line sailed over keeper Aldi Haxhia. Alex Dyer equalised on the hour and Lee Chappell’s free-kick won it 15 minutes later.

Two goals from Ade Olorunda in nine minutes either side of the hour mark earned Maidstone a 2-0 victory at Whitstable and the night’s other three ties all finished as 1-0 wins for the visitors.

Wade Small scored after 16 minutes for Kingstonian at Harrow, Stuart Zanone’s 35th-minute effort was enough for Thamesmead at Faversham and Charlie Walker did the damage for Whitehawk at Bognor in the 53rd minute.