WIMBORNE Town waltzed past hapless Bashley with striker James Stokoe smashing a hat-trick in the 6-1 thrashing of his former employers.

The result marks a dramatic turnaround with the Magpies, who let in a whopping 16 goals during four Southern South & West defeats at the start of the season, scoring 14 times in three straight victories.

Stokoe got the ball rolling with the opener after four minutes and Wimborne continued to overload their struggling visitors until the inevitable second arrived through winger Carl Preston nine minutes before half-time.

There was still time for Billy Maybury’s free kick to find Stokoe to make it three before the interval and the one-way traffic continued in the second half with Franklyn Clarke applying the close-range finish to Preston’s pinpoint centre for number four.

Stokoe completed his hat-trick and then teed up Mark Gamble to complete the rout.

Wimborne’s revival is likely to face a sterner examination on Saturday when they make the long journey to last season’s runners-up Evesham United.

Magpies: Harvell, Arnold, Oliver (Randall, 60) Wilson (Elliott, 64), Maybury, Johnson, Griffin, Clarke (Blake, 64), Stokoe, Gamble, Preston. Unused subs: Turner, Costello.