BRETT ORMEROD became the first Saints striker to score from open play this season as his team romped to an emphatic thrashing of Tranmere.

The £1.75m man slammed home a hat-trick to crush Southampton's Second Division opponents and ensure the St Mary's men are in the draw for the third round of the Worthington Cup.

Just over 16,000 fans came to the match but the ones who stayed away must be pig-sick as Saints netted six times, having only managed four in their eight Premiership games before now.

Saints were so much better than Tranmere that at times it was almost embarrassing and at the heart of the display were Ormerod and Fabrice Fernandes.

Ormerod, who netted a hat-trick last Tuesday for the reserves, was obviously pretty happy with his evening's work and to find the net again.

He said: "I'm delighted with the hat-trick. Winning the game was the main thing but it was still good.

"We haven't scored too many goals this season and it is always nice to get a few.

"There are quality strikers here and you need to bide your time and hopefully get a chance to perform.

"I take every game as it comes and that's all you can do, there are some great players here.

"One of these has been coming, some of the results haven't been justified.

"No one at the club has been panicking about the lack of goals because of the quality strikers we have here and it only takes one to go in off your head or your backside and you're on a run.

"I have got the matchball and it's going home with me.

"It's always nice to score but as I said I'd rather keep winning than score although I do like it and, if a few more come my way, then I'll be very happy."

Ormerod has always been prolific against Second Division teams like Tranmere but the big question he now has to answer is whether he can do it in the Premiership.

He reckoned: "I wouldn't be here if I didn't believe I could score goals in the Premiership and play at that level so hopefully I'll get my chance and get some goals."

Whatever happens in the League, this win over Tranmere laid to rest the ghost of the 4-3 FA Cup defeat 18 months ago in a style that nobody could argue with.

You had to feel for the Merseyside team - they were totally outclassed, totally outplayed and totally demolished.

You would expect that from a Premiership team but, as Saints fans know only too well, it isn't always the case.

Saints could hardly have got off to a better start with a goal after only 16 seconds - yes, that's 16 SECONDS.

Tranmere goalkeeper Phil Whitehead, who had what is known in the game as a 'mare, received a backpass and allowed Ormerod and Beattie time to close him down.

Under the pressure of Beattie he totally fluffed his clearance which fell to Marsden, 40-yards out on the left touchline, and his first-time shot sailed back over Whitehead and into the net - for anybody wondering, that's a 'mare!

After that Saints stuttered and Tranmere got a foothold in the game for the first and only time.

After 17 minutes, Michael Svensson headed back across the face of his own area where Alex Hay miscontrolled when through on goal - but there was no let-off on 22 minutes when Graham Allen somehow forced home a corner via Antti Niemi and the post.

For Tranmere though, that was as good as it got.

Saints took control with Fernandes running the show.

On 25 minutes he got to the by-line, a rare sight this season but certainly welcome, and chipped to the far post where Beattie headed back across goal and, after Christian Edwards failed to clear, Ormerod over-head kicked home his first with the 'keeper nowhere to be seen.

The same player made it 3-1 three minutes before the break, again in bizarre circumstances as Tranmere defender Allen was robbed by Chris Marsden who squared to Ormerod who calmly slotted home.

Just seven minutes into the second half came the pick of the goals when Fernandes strolled almost half the length of the pitch and took advantage of the defence being rooted to the spot to sidefoot home a beautiful left-foot finish.

It was 5-1 on 65 minutes when Anders Svensson's corner was flicked on by Ormerod for Michael Svensson to bundle home his first competitive goal for Saints.

Ormerod completed the scoring and his hat-trick three minutes later with the best of his treble, turning a defender, skipping past Allen's diving challenge and clinically finishing.

Sometimes it seems strikers can do nothing wrong!