DUAL-SIGNED Eastleigh young gun Tom Bearwish netted a hat-trick as Portland United went goal crazy against Amesbury Town at the Weyline Stadium.

Ryan McKechnie’s first-half brace gave the Blues a 2-1 half-time lead after had Luke Greenway equalised for Town, before Lewis Clarke’s goal preceded Bearwish’s treble in a 6-1 landslide victory.

It was interim boss Gary Bailey’s first win in the three games since returning to the club and he described it as “a monkey off our back”.

“It’s always nice to get that win under your belt. It was important we got that,” he said.

“Hopefully it gives us a bit of momentum and we can take it into the games coming up.”

Talking through Bearwish’s treble, Bailey said: “For his first, Tom picked the ball up and took a great shot in the bottom corner.

“Tom and Alex Godfrey then combined on the edge of the box and Tom calmly finished, then Tom rounded off his hat-trick with a nice cushioned header at the back post. We played some good football.”

Portland’s victory, only their fifth at home all season, leaves them 11th in the Sydenhams Premier Division ahead of Saturday’s visit from AFC Portchester.

*FAREHAM Town chalked up their fifth successive away league and cup win at the 2-1 expense of Team Solent at Test Park.

The Students drew first blood in the Sydenhams Premier showdown with Hisham Kasimu's 22nd goal of the season, but Fareham were back on terms within four minutes when Robbie Pittman struck.

Callum Laycock won it for the Reds ten minutes into the second half.

“It was a good win against tough opponents with a lot of talent in their side,” said Fareham boss Pete Stiles, paying tribute to the “real togetherness and will to win” within his squad.

Fareham will hit the road once again tomorrow (Tuesday, 7.45pm) to league leaders Andover Town in the semi-finals of the Russell Cotes Cup.

Team Solent, meanwhile, face a tough league assignment at eighth-placed Horndean, whose scheduled league game at Alresford Town was postponed.