A FIRST hat-trick of the season for last year’s Eastern Counties League top scorer Andrew Wood helped Mildenhall to inflict Wivenhoe’s first defeat of the campaign.
After hitting three in the first three minutes against Diss on Saturday, Hall made another fast start, Wood latching on to Carl Murkin’s clever chipped pass to slot home after two minutes.
Owen Paynter then wasted a great opportunity, volleying wide from Wood’s flick-on, but the visitors came into the match with some neat passing and Liam Dadds fizzed a cross-cum-shot narrowly wide of the far post.
The hosts’ David Cooper then hit the post with a stunning 40-yard effort, and James Paterson should have extended his side’s lead just before half-time after stealing the ball inside the Wivenhoe penalty area, but saw his shot saved.
With only a one-goal cushion, Hall still looked edgy early in the second half, but the arrival of Wayne Proctor from the bench provided a spark and he grabbed the vital second goal on 65 minutes, lashing home after being released by Cooper’s quick free-kick.
The home side relaxed to attack with more fluency from that point on and Cooper’s fine pass soon released Wood to make it three. The tall striker sealed his treble with two minutes remaining after Proctor’s low cross found him unmarked at the far post.

Team: Josh Pope, Dave Cooper, Darryl Coakley, Paul Jones, Michael Harvey, Dave Werthmann, Kris Thomas (Wayne Proctor 65), Carl Murkin (Alex Steed 72), Owen Paynter (Isaac Jagroop 78), Andrew Wood, James Paterson
Subs: Wayne Proctor (for Kris Thomas 65), Alex Steed (for Carl Murkin 72), Adarian Judge, Isaac Jagroop (for Owen Paynter 78), Jimmy Attwood

Goals: Andrew Wood 3, Wayne Proctor 1