ANDOVER Diamonds bounced back from last week’s disappointment at Newbury with an 8-1 thrashing of West Wilts Vets.

Mike Boyne was the hat-trick hero for Andover, while goals from Glyn Hacker, Andrew Thomson, Chris Fry, Greig Taylor and Lance Mitchell saw the town side secure a much needed three points.

Diamonds started the game brightly, keen to improve on their 2-0 defeat to Newbury and Thatcham Vets in their last fixture.

Andover pressed the West Wilts defence at every opportunity and did not allow them to settle.

This strategy paid off five minutes in when a precise ball from Taylor found Boyne in the D and his first time shot flew past the West Wilts goalkeeper.

Hacker doubled the lead five minutes later when his lifted shot from the edge of the D beat the keeper and burst through the net.

As is their habit of late, the Diamonds took their foot off the gas and some casual defending allowed West Wilts to pull one back.

However the two goal lead was soon restored when Andrew Thomson finished from close range.

A lack of concentration presented the visitors with another opportunity to get back into the game.

A ball from deep defence found its way to their unmarked forward and he was up-ended by the Andover keeper, Dave Rutherford.

However, the stopper redeemed himself by saving the penalty stroke.

The half time message was to keep concentration and attack with speed and width.

Clearly the message got through as the home side slotted five unanswered second half goals.

Boyne got the ball rolling, finishing off a slick passing move in midfield between Hacker, Andrew Thomson and Richard Hoo.

Next up was Fry who found himself free on the back post to fire home from close range.

Greig Taylor made it six, deflecting in a cross before Mike Boyne completed his hat-trick with a deflection over the prone keeper.

Lance Mitchell rounded off the scoring, slapping in a cross from the right.