BASINGSTOKE steamrolled their way through Southern League Division One South side Lymington Town in a one-sided FA Cup Preliminary Round tie that finished 6-0, thanks to a Marcio Neves hat-trick, alongside Brad Wilson’s brace and Sam Argent’s header.

The match pitted together two sides nominally at the same level in English football’s pyramid, yet the chasm between the two sides served as compelling evidence of the Isthmian League’s general superiority over the Southern League. 

In a scintillating attacking performance, ‘Stoke cut through Lymington’s left hand side almost at will and by full time the Badgers’ could have been forgiven for feeling thankful that the margin didn’t rise into double figures.

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It took 20 minutes for the first goal to arrive – Neves and Argent combining with a series of neat, one-touch passes inside the box before finding Wilson to finish the move with a sweetly struck volley at the far post (1-0).

The goal opened the floodgates and 17 minutes later, ‘Stoke were cruising at 5-0 up.

Neves doubled the lead 60 seconds after Wilson’s opener, shooting low through the goalkeeper’s legs from the edge of the box (2-0).

Just two minutes later, Argent glanced a header home from Dan Williamson’s cross (3-0).

Argent turned provider on the half hour mark, his low cross toed away by the keeper for Neves to force over the line (4-0).

The Portuguese winger rounded off his hat-trick with a 37th minute penalty after Wilson had been tripped in the box (5-0).

Wilson could so easily have had a hat-trick of his own, hitting the post three times throughout the afternoon while the home keeper produced a string of saves to deny him in the later stages of the first period.

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Wilson did finally notch his second, rounding off the scoring amid a glut of second half ‘Stoke chances with 20 minutes to play (6-0).

A perfect afternoon in the sun was complete when popular defender Scott Armsworth entered the fray to an ovation from fans and teammates alike following 10 months out with a serious knee injury.