JOINT-boss Fawzi Saadi was happy to be left out of pocket after cousin Nasim Meddah had spearheaded Poppies to a convincing 4-0 win over Sydenhams Wessex Premier strugglers Amesbury.

Meddah, nephew of former Wimborne Town ace Billy Meddah, plundered a hat-trick in the Victoria Park rout – and earned himself a nice cash windfall in the process.

“I said I would give him twenty quid if he scored a hat-trick,” said Saadi. “After he had got his second, I was hoping he wouldn’t get another but he did!

“To be honest, I would happily give him twenty quid if he scored a hat-trick in every game. I was really pleased for him.”

Meddah, who had been on the bench for Poppies’ stunning 1-0 win at Sholing seven days previously, gave the hosts an 11th-minute lead.

However, he squandered a glorious chance to double their advantage having gone through with only Amesbury goalkeeper Paddy Crease to beat just a couple of minutes later.

Saadi said: “He tried to lob the goalkeeper and it was the worst decision he could have made. We went in at half-time leading 1-0 when it should have been 2-0.

“His finish for the first goal was excellent but I sat him down at the break and told him in no uncertain terms to be more clinical. I told him not to do anything stupid like trying to chip the goalkeeper.

“I told him to concentrate on his finishing and he did in the second half so I was really pleased for him. Maybe the twenty quid had something to do with it!”

Meddah bagged a quickfire double to put Poppies in the ascendancy early in the second half before Chris Speers completed the scoring 10 minutes from time.

Victory saw Poppies climb to 11th ahead of tomorrow’s trip to 10th-placed Shaftesbury when a third win on the bounce would put the Winton outfit in the top 10.

“The lads were different gravy,” added playmaker Saadi, who provided the assist for Speers to volley home their fourth goal.

“After beating Sholing, we said to them before the game that if we bottled it against Amesbury, that result would have gone out of the window.

“We pressed them from the first minute until the last and it could have been six or seven. The work rate, effort and attitude were spot on.”

Dale Mason netted the only goal for AFC Portchester as they condemned fellow Wessex Premier high-fliers Lymington to defeat at Blanchard Wells Stadium.

Brockenhurst's clash with Team Solent and Bashley's scheduled trip to Newport were postponed due to waterlogged pitches.

In Wessex One, second-half goals from James Parker-Trott and Dylan Gain earned Hythe & Dibden a 2-0 win at Ringwood Town.

Christchurch's clash with Alton and New Milton's showdown with Totton & Eling were both postponed.