WHITCHURCH were put to the sword by a dominant Moneyfields team last Saturday, with the away-side showing their fellow title challengers exactly why they sit top of the Sydenhams Premier League.

In a dazzling performance by Moneys’ leading scorer, Steve Hutchings, who claimed a first half hattrick, Whitchurch, showed signs that their 120 minute midweek game had left its mark.

The home side, who needed a win to regain top place, were never able to get a foothold in the game and rediscover their scoring boots which have deserted them of late.

And Whitchurch, who were without Mitch Fear, Josh Harfield, Rudi Plummer and new signing Chris Manning, got off to the worse possible start as Hutchings plundered the first of his three goals with barely two minutes on the clock.

Then the speedy Alfie Rutherford made ground on the left for the visitors only for Jack Garner to clear the danger before a long ball sent Danny Phillips away on the right but his cross could not find a fellow team-mate.

A Tom Lockyer pass found Ryan Lambert but the defence held firm before former Andover player, Lewis Fennemore, forced a corner which Elliott Parker blocked before tackling Hutchings as he fastened on to the loose ball.

Garner saw a shot go wide of the far post and Parker stopped Rutherford before the visitors doubled their lead on the half hour mark.

A tumble in the box upset the home supporters but the referee quickly gave the penalty and Hutchings made no mistake from the spot.

Brad Snelling in the home goal turned a fierce free-kick from Conor Bailey round the post before an unhappy opening 45 minutes for the home side finished with Hutchings completing his hat-trick just before the break.

Hutchings started the second half as he had the first with Snelling turning an effort away for a corner which was cleared by Hinchcliffe and the home side, with Danny Barker replacing Elliott Parker, to their credit kept battling and contained the game in midfield for long periods.

Jack McCarthy won a free-kick that came to nothing but with the visitors comfortably ahead there was little further threat at either end despite considerable endeavour from the home side.

Moneyfields did claim a fourth, a volley from substitute Tom Resch giving Snelling little chance, and though Adam Pearson’s header narrowly crept over, Whitchurch failed to bag a consolation goal against the in-form away side.

With Petersfield not playing, Winchester losing and Newport on League Cup duty, the defeat did little damage to Whitchurch’s league position and, given their highly successful start to the season, a blip in fortune was always on the horizon.