DOM Ballard scored a hat-trick on his Saints under-21s return to help them beat Fulham 5-2 and progress to the Premier League play-off semi-finals.

Ballard, 20, scored a 15-minute hat-trick, with goals either side of half-time, to ensure Southampton booked a semi-final against Crystal Palace.

Defender Joachim Kayi Sanda had levelled for Saints, with his third in four games at St Mary's, after Martial Godo gave Fulham an early lead.

Godo fired back to make things nervy for the hosts, who collapsed in the previous round against Leicester, but Prince Ehibhatiomhan came off the bench to restore their buffer.

Calum McFarlane made three changes to the team that lost 2-0 to Brentford in the Premier League Cup on Thursday; Ballard, Jayden Moore and Jay Robinson coming in.

There was also a spot on the bench for Joe O'Brien Whitmarsh following the end of his loan with League Two side Accrington Stanley.

Saints appeared to be suffering the after-effects of their semi-final defeat to Brentford last week and were behind within five minutes.

Godo scored at the back post, despite a bevy of Saints bodies occupying the box, forcing Saints to respond.

And they did so midway through the first half when Kayi Sanda, a winter arrival from Valenciennes, remained persistent in the final third to fire an equaliser.

Momentum twisted and turned until Fulham won a penalty when Kayi Sanda tripped a Fulham forward inside the box.

Josh McNarama saved the Frenchman's blushes when he saved Callum Osmand's spot kick and smothered the rebound.

 

Ballard, who had scored 11 goals in his last seven Saints under-21 appearances, got his first of the evening and put Saints ahead just before the break with a trademark dink.

The England youth international is a gluttonous goalscorer at this level and fired his second to extend Southampton's lead on 60 minutes.

Ballard only required two minutes to complete his hat-trick with a rolled finish past Alex Borto, before Godo pulled one back six minutes later.

Ehibhatiomhan, having come off the bench, added a fifth to secure round off a five-star performance at St Mary's 

Saints: McNamara, Abu, Moore, Payne, Kayi Sanda, Larios, Bragg, Akachukwu, Robinson, Sesay, Ballard.

Subs: Abbotson, Dobson-Ventura, O'Brien Whitmarsh, Merry, Ehibhatiomhan.

Fulham: Borto, Gohoro, Essenga, Amissah, De Fougerolles, Dibley-Dias, Lanquendoc, King, Osmand, Ridgeon, Godo.

Subs: Underwood, Nsasi, Nwoko, Gordon, Works.

Referee: Sam Mulhall.