A quick-fire hat-trick from Jordan Carter, and a brace from Harry Rice to equal the league scoring record, helped Dial to emphatic win over The Dons, who were still nursing an 11-0 hangover from earlier in the season.

The win means Dial need just three more points from their remaining six games to secure the Surrey County Intermediate League (Western) Premier Division title.

Dial were quick to get on the scoresheet when George Lawrence’s 25-yard drive swerved to wrong-foot Dons’ goalkeeper Tom Webb after just seven minutes.

And Lawrence came close to doubling his tally when his shot went agonisingly wide of the cross-post from 12 yards a few minutes later.

As Dial set the tempo, great link-up play between Charlie Marshall and Rice saw Marshall break into the box, before side-stepping Ryan Luff and firing low past Webb to make it 2-0 on 21 minutes.

Rice passed up the opportunity to extend Dial’s advantage when he tried to outwit Webb instead of shooting first time, while Carter’s shot hit the bar midway through the first half.

The Dons had the crossbar to thank again when Aidan Phillip’s power-drive crashed off the metalwork after the hosts failed to clear their backline.

A sustained period of pressure ensued, with Carter and Marshall both going close, but The Dons were happy to trail by just two goals at the break.

Phil Miller had a good chance to pull a goal back for the hosts three minutes after the interval, but the talisman fired well-over from inside the box.

Dial responded 90 seconds later when Carter cut in from the right before slotting the ball under Webb to make it 3-0.

Three minutes later, Carter ran through to make it 4-0 to compound the hosts' misery. And Webb was reeling again when Carter scored from an acute angle to complete his hat-trick; the fastest in the club’s history.

Five soon became six when Rice coolly dinked the ball over Webb. However, The Dons managed to pull a goal back from Jamie Grove after 72 minutes.

Not to be outdone, Rice nipped in to score his second and Dial’s seventh in the 90th minute to complete a resounding victory to set up a potential title decider against Knaphill Athletic at Alwyns Lane on Tuesday (2 April).

Speaking after the match, Brown said: “Firstly, credit to Hambledon for getting the game on and preparing the pitch so well after all the adverse weather.

"I fancied us to put on a big performance and the players didn't disappoint by scoring seven. I thought we were unlucky to only be 2-0 up at the break; we couldn't quite find that last touch on multiple passages of play. However, I thought we dominated the match for large spells and I couldn't be happier with result.

"A special shoutout to Harry [Rice] for equalling the league scoring record [34] after just 20 games. Also, a special mention to Jordan [Carter] for scoring a superb hat-trick after being out for five weeks through injury.

"Once again, thank you to all the fans who made the trip to Hambledon; it made for a decent crowd at Badger Park," he added.

Dial Square line-up: Rider, L.Rogers, Auns, Phillips (Linturn), Vass, Neville, Carter (Cenzano), Rose-Davies, Rice, Lawrence (Phillips), Marshall (Porcher).

MotM: Jordan Carter

*Match highlights are available here on YouTube courtesy of Hambledon F.C.