WILL Smallbone fired a hat-trick as Saints U23s won the Southampton Senior Cup in the competition’s centenary year at St Mary’s last night.

The number ten created the first midway through the first half before scoring his treble in the space of 20 second-half minutes as Saints romped to a 6-0 win against the Sydenhams Wessex Premier League’s champions-elect.

Substitute Olufela Olomola and winger Tyreke Johnson were also on target in the last ten minutes as Saints added some gloss to a scoreline that ultimately flattered them.

Blackfield restricted their illustrious opponents to a slender 1-0 lead for the best part of an hour.

They will be crowned Wessex champions tomorrow night, assuming they do not lose 31-0 at Brockenhurst, and until the last half hour, showed why they have only conceded 27 goals in 41 league games this season.

Given that Saints U23s have aspirations to play in the Football League, if not the Premier, it was surprising how little they created before capitalising against the part-timers’ tired legs.

The Watersiders fashioned few clear-cut opportunities themselves but for most of the night their approach play lost little in comparison with their hosts, who were doing their best to impress in front of a crowd of 342 that included director of football Les Reed

Blackfield midfielders Conor Hoare and Franklyn Clarke impressed with their range of passing, while Lerone Plummer was unfortunate not to equalise with the underdogs’ best chance in the 53rd minute.

After a quick exchange of passes with the skilful Sammy Maklhoufi, his powerful shot from inside the area was heading for the top right corner when Latham flung himself to his left to tip it behind.

Saints carved Blackfield open time and time again thereafter, but until then they had lacked quality in the final third.

Christoph Klarer put a diving header from a corner over the bar and a wonderful ball from Johnson flew across the six-yard box, begging for a touch that never came.

Defender Aaron O‘Driscoll hooked a volley wide after Snelling punched clear Jake Vokins’ corner and N’Lundulu had a shot blocked before Yan Valery sidefooted the 22nd-minute opener into the far corner from Smallbone’s pass.

Saints were always a threat on the break but Blackfield continued to frustrate their hosts.

Smallbone should have had another assist but for poor finishing from N’Lundulu who, with time to pick his spot, shot tamely at Snelling.

For the most part, Saints’ final ball was not good enough, but they had chances to get a second before half-time.

A Smallbone shot was deflected for a corner, and Snelling did well to keep out far-post header from O’Driscoll.

Blackfield’s hard word was undone after Smallbone doubled the lead from N’Lundulu’s threaded through ball, having beaten the offside trap, in the 58th minute.

Blackfield captain Poole was always a threat at set pieces but after flashing a header over the bar three of his teammates - Connor Doe, Clarke and Hoare – were booked for fouls in as many minutes as their frustration mounted.

Snelling did well to keep out Olomola from point-blank range but, with Blackfield legs tiring, more goals were only a matter of time.

Wonderful approach play and a nicely-weighted Olomola assist created Smallbone’s 73rd minute second.

Five minutes later, the Basingstoke lad tapped in his hat-trick goal from Johnson’s cross.

A terrific cross from the right by Valery was tapped in by Olomola in the 83rd minute and a minute later Johnson fired in the sixth off the far post before being denied another by Snelling in a one-one.

Saints U23s: Kinglsey Latham, Yan Valery, Jake Vokins, Ben Rowthorn, Aaron O’Driscoll, Christoph Klarer, Nathan Tella (Siph Mdlalose 75), Callum Slattery (Harry Hamblin 79), Dan N’Lundulu (Olufela Olomola 63), Will Smallbone, Tyreke Johnson.

Subs unused: Adam Parkes, Kayne Ramsay

Blackfield & Langley: Brad Snelling, Liam Robinson, Ryan Oatley, Connor Doe, Sam Poole, Connor Hoare (Josh Leslie-Smith 79), Sammy Maklhoufi Sam Woodward 79), Sean Stewart, (Joe Butcher 59), Lerone Plummer, Franklyn Clarke, Sam Griffin. Subs unused: Josh Leslie-Smith, Harrison Faye, Tom Rees