WEYMOUTH 4 ROMSEY 1 PATRICK May netted a hat-trick as Weymouth got their league campaign off to a strong start with a convincing 4-1 win over Romsey.

Having gained promotion to Hampshire Two after finishing runners-up to the Southampton outfit last season, the Seasiders were desperate to win and they started in emphatic fashion with May setting up Luke Drewitt to deflect home the opener at the far post in the early exchanges.

Romsey then took advantage of a momentary lapse by Weymouth to level but that setback did not faze the hosts, who immediately restored their lead through May’s low drag flick from a short corner.

After the break, the Seasiders then made good use of their substitutes in the unseasonable heat and continued to press hard to increase their advantage, with hard work from Steve Membury and Matt Lawes in midfield.

And it was that concerted pressure that resulted in a string of short corners, which again saw May fire home with another impressive drag flick, this time into the top-left corner.

Romsey tried to respond but just five minutes later Weymouth’s talisman went on to grab his third with a low shot from eight yards to put the result beyond doubt.

Lazy Lizard Man of the Match: Matt Lawes