JAMIE Shaw was the hat-trick hero as in-form STANWAY ROVERS powered into the first-round proper of the FA Vase.

Danny Slatter’s men proved far too strong for Wodson Park, brushing aside the Spartan South Midlands League side 7-1 in Saturday’s second-round qualifying tie at The Hawthorns.

The goal glut began after a neat finish from Marley Andrews and it was a dream start for the Thurlow Nunn League high-fliers, who have won four of their six premier division matches so far and are still going strong in the Essex Senior Cup.

Stanway then suffered a blow when the visitors equalised from a hotly-contested penalty.

Although Daniel Wheeler saved their initial spot-kick, the loose ball was tucked home for a dramatic equaliser.

However, Rovers responded emphatically and regained their lead just before half-time when Shaw headed home Joe Maybanks’ delivery.

Incredibly, there was then time for one more before the interval after a strike from Maybanks.

The Rovers man whipped the ball in from the right and it ended up in the bottom left-hand corner.

Stanway went from strength to strength in the second half and Shaw hammered home from the edge of the box, before tapping home after a flick-on by Jonathan Carver.

With the contest settled, the hosts added a sixth when Andrew Wood looped the ball over the Wodson Park keeper.

Andrews hammered the final nail in the visitors’ coffin, showing great footwork before scoring in stoppage time.

It was a stunning, one-sided result and a straightforward winner of our star performance award.

FC CLACTON were also in red-hot goalscoring form, though, and advanced into Monday’s draw after seeing off Redbridge 4-1 at the Austin Arena.

Callum Griffith scored their opener in first-half stoppage time.

Jake Clowsley then gave the hosts breathing space with a second three minutes after the break.

Redbridge quickly threw themselves a lifeline but Jordan Lartey grabbed a third for Tom Austin’s Seasiders.

Harry McDonald capped an excellent afternoon by adding the fourth in stoppage time.

BRANTHAM ATHLETIC were also comfortable winners, 4-2 conquerors of West Essex.

Taylor Bannister set the ball rolling and there was also a goal for assistant manager Patrick Brothers – the brother of Imps boss Michael.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t such a good day for WIVENHOE TOWN.

The Dragons’ Vase hopes went up in smoke after a 4-1 defeat at FC Broxbourne Borough.

After finding themselves two-down, Gary Monti’s men halved the deficit when captain Dean Merrett headed home David Lopez’s free-kick.

However, Broxbourne added two more to make comfortable progress.

The cash reward for winning at the weekend was £725.

That amount goes up to £825 at the next stage and the first-round proper matches will be played on Saturday, October 12.