DANNY Garrad was the hat-trick hero as Little Oakley thrashed Sawbridgeworth Town 4-1 at the Memorial Ground, writes LARRY DOBKIN.

The Acorns were in free-scoring form, in their latest Essex Senior League clash.

Wood returned to captain the Oakley side and Brothers got his first full start.

Carmichael is still suspended and watched the game from the sidelines.

Oakley were playing neat football when Brothers took control of a pass in midfield and fired a pinpoint ball to Garrad, who was on the half turn at the edge of the Sawbridgeworth penalty area.

Garrad fired past the keeper into the bottom corner, to put the home side 1-0 up.

Sawbridgeworth were also playing good football and went close in a goalmouth scramble.

Sawbridgeworth's midfield put the pressure on and when the ball was played in between Wood and Farthing, it allowed Doolan to shoot past Joyce to equalise.

Oakley then started to get more control of the game and slowed it down, ensuring they did not give the ball away cheaply.

Oakley had two chances in quick succession, with Mann shooting wide from the edge of the area and Owusu-Boakye also missing the target.

Joyce pushed an effort wide and off for a corner, before Farthing was booked and sin-binned for dissent, after the referee had awarded the visitors a free-kick.

The last action of the half found Brothers through on goal but keeper Edgeworthy stayed big and strong and managed to palm the ball wide.

Oakley seemingly had a strong half-time team talk and were now first to every ball.

An Oakley free-kick was well worked with Garrad looking to shoot but laying a five-yard ball to Brothers, who shot marginally over the bar.

Oakley then swung the ball into the box causing an eight-man scramble, with Ridgway-Lumley bending a shot just past the post.

The Acorns regained their lead through Garrad who controlled Ridgeway-Lumley's pass and fired in.

Sawbridgeworth then had a player sin-binned for ten minutes and Oakley were very much on top with the bulk of the possession.

Brothers' well-crafted pass saw Garrad through in space with the opportunity to shoot and he completed his hat-trick, making his goal tally 18 for the season.

Mann was denied by keeper Edgeworthy's brilliant save but Wood headed in Oakley's fourth from Garrad's corner, to wrap up a big victory.