Didcot Tn 5 (King 4, Rusher 57, Powell 71, 73, 87)

Newport IoW 0

Didcot Town midfielder Paul Powell marked his return from exile in style with a sensational 16-minute hat-trick as Didcot comprehensively dispatched ten-man Newport at Loop Meadow in Division 1 South & West on Saturday.

o Powell's introduction as a second-half substitute saw the ex-Oxford United ace notched his first treble in senior football as Didcot stayed clear at the top of the table.

The home side got off to the perfect start, taking the lead when Newport keeper Sam Webb failed to deal with Matt Bicknell's cross and Jack King applied a calm finish.

Newport's Nathan Bailey was rightfully booked for a cynical foul on Bicknell on the half-hour, and then received a second yellow moments later for a verbal volley of abuse at the referee.

King grazed the bar from 25 yards, while at the other end, Richard Morse fired over from 12 yards.

Didcot introduced Richard Witt and Powell in the 56th minute, and within seconds, had doubled their lead.

Andy Parrott's free-kick was nodded on by Peirson, and debutant Vinny Rusher fired home from close range.

Witt fired two identical chances wide, before Powell made it 3-0, heading home a Liam Hope cross.

Two minutes later, Powell scored his second and Didcot's fourth after a fine through ball from King, Powell coolly lobbing Webb.

Rusher was denied by a fine save from Webb, but this was to be Powell's day.

Matty Jack created space on the left, and Powell completed his hat-trick when he prodded home from ten yards.

Didcot Tn: Watkins, Heapy (Hope 68), Bicknell, Davis, Peirson, Parrott, Mulvany (Witt 54), King, Odhiambo (Powell 54), Rusher, Jack.

Attendance: 237