St Neots sailed almost effortlessly into the next round of the FA Vase thanks to a hat-trick by recent signing Kieran Barnes that took his personal tally to seven goals in just six appearances, writes John Walker.

The final score was St Neots Town 5 - Sheringham - 0.

Not that this was a one man show because in an outstanding team performance St Neots recorded their best FA Vase result since thrashing Felixstowe and Walton 11-0 14 seasons ago.

Their reward in four weeks’ time is another home tie when Thurlow Nunn side Downham Town will be the visitors to the Premier Plus Stadium in the second qualifying round of the competition.

Barnes became the first St Neots player to score an FA competition hat-trick since that Felixstowe victory that had featured hat tricks by both Stefan Moore and Shane Tolley.

Three goals in a quarter of an hour early in the second half set up this victory over a visiting side that had little to offer in attack but never gave up competing.

St Neots restored Murphy Culkin, Sam Willis and Dan Walker to the starting line-up with Nathan George, Harvey Williams and Lil Francisco all rested on the substitutes bench.

St Neots began well enough and were ahead after just six minutes when the lively Connor Furlong left his marker in his slipstream as he crossed from the by-line for Kieran Barnes to open St Neots’ account.

St Neots then laid siege to the visiting goal, but Barnes shot over when well placed, Furlong brought a full length save from visiting keeper Oliver Denham and Barnes had another effort block on the goal line.

Denham was the busiest player on the field saving twice from Rhys Thorpe and he then had to dive fearlessly at the feet of Barnes to block as the St Neots forward went clear of the defence.

Sheringham’s only response was a header from defender Shane Cox from an Alfie Bell corner and then Charlie Bowen joined the home attack to head narrowly over the bar.

The half ended in unfortunate fashion for the visitors when goalkeeper Denham and defender Shane Cox attempting to clear a corner collided. Neither were able to continue so the visiting side had to reshape their team with two substitutes replacing them after the break.

Within two minutes of the restart Kieran Barnes struck again after Rhys Thorpe had set him up robbing a defender on the side-line.

Twice in eight minutes Thorpe found the back of the net but was ruled marginally offside on each occasion, then after 63 minutes Barnes was perfectly placed to collect a Dan Walker cross to complete his hat-trick.

Just past the hour, Saints manager Cameron Mawer began the process of giving his squad game time introducing all five permitted substitutes in a quarter of an hour spell and this only seemed to inspire his side.

Substitute Danny Baulk on for just two minutes celebrated by adding the fourth goal from a Barnes cross and the final goal came three minutes from time and was a just reward for scorer Connor Furlong who had terrorised the visiting defence throughout the match.

It was probably the best team performance for manager Cameron Mawer since his appointment 12 months ago.

St Neots: Goff, Nickels, Culkin, Willis, Parker, Bowen, Furlong, Amaeshike, Thorpe, Barnes, Walker

Subs: Baulk (for Walker 61 mins), Williams (for Thorpe 64 mins), George (for Parker 64 mins), Joseph (for Barnes 69 mins), Francisco (for Bowen 73 mins).

Cards: Nickels (Y – 90 mins)

Sheringham: Denham. Waller. Cork, Marshall, Cox, Gaskin, McIntyre, Brasero, Abbs, Bell, Gilmour

Subs: Nelson (for Denham 46 mins), Lemos (for Abbs 46 mins), Cawcutt (for Gilmour 53 mins), Blois (for Gaskin 59 mins).

Cards: Waller (Y – 51 mins), Bell (Y – 77 mins)

Referee: Thomas Tyler (Leicester)