A blitzing performance from Sandbach United saw them go top of the NWCFL South table after a 6-0 demolition of St Martins FC.

Andy Hockenhull made only one change to the starting eleven, with Aaron Knight dropping out of the squad after injuring his foot against Brocton FC.

New signing Amir Hajri replaced him for his first start in blue and white. Steve Jones was also left out of the squad with a groin injury, with Callum Collinson replacing him amongst the substitutes.

The Ramblers started the match in dominant fashion, with Hajri making his presence known early as he floated a dangerous cross to the back post for Robbie Hatton, but he couldn't connect, and the follow-up shot from Sean Moscrop was blocked.

Kieran O'Connell has proved a threat from set-pieces over the last couple of games and looked to do the same against St Martins when he found himself completely unmarked from a corner after 9 minutes but put his free header over the crossbar.

Hatton, who scored a first-half hattrick in this fixture last season, only took 22 minutes to score against them this season.

A corner into the box was cleared only as far as the young attacker, who controlled the ball with his back to goal before swivelling around the defender and driving a thunderous shot into the near post top corner, with St Martins keeper Riccardo Longato barely managing to get a touch on its way in.

Sandbach should have doubled their lead 5 minutes later when another O'Connell back post header was sent bouncing back into danger.

Declan O'Riordan tried to reach it with his head but missed, before Hajri swung a leg at it and somehow put the ball over the bar from no more than 6 yards.

Sean Moscrop doubled the home side's lead in the 39th minute when he made his way into the box before striking a low left-footed shot at the near post.

It looked savable for Longato, but the away keeper didn't get a strong enough glove on the shot and it trickled into the net.

Sandbach could have made it three on the stroke of halftime when in-form Bobbie McDonnell met a Scott Evans corner with his head but sent the ball crashing off the crossbar, before O'Riordan's attempted rebound shot was cleared off the line by a desperate St Martins defender.

Scott Evans marked his excellent performance with a goal 1 minute and 18 seconds after the second half started, when he chested down a lovely long pass before setting himself and rolling a shot through the legs of Longato and in for Sandbach's third.

The St Martins' heads began to drop after the third goal and the Ramblers could smell blood, so the onslaught on the visitor's goal began. Longato made a couple of crucial saves from Hajri and McDonnell before the latter got the goal his performance deserved in the 69th minute.

McDonnell's goal came from a lovely cross from the fantastic Callum Chapman, who picked him out effortlessly just outside the 6-yard box. McDonnell hit a first-time side-footed volley to the keeper's right and left him with no chance.

Sandbach could have had a penalty in the 77th minute when substitute Matt Pearson was hauled down in the box, but the referee was unmoved and play continued.

Amadou Doumbouya made his competitive debut for the Ramblers from the bench and had a couple decent opportunities, but finally marked it with something special in the 83rd minute.

A poor St Martins clearance was intercepted by the tricky winger just outside the box, and he took a touch into the box before whipping a sublime effort into the top right corner, with Longato unable to do any more than stand and watch as it curled into the side netting.

He kissed the pitch in delight as he was surrounded by his teammates to celebrate his first competitive goal for the club.

There was still time for McDonnell to grab a second when he beat the offside trap perfectly to find himself one on one against Longato.

He waited for the St Martins keeper to commit before slotting a shot into the bottom right corner and wheeled away in celebration.

As the full-time whistle blew, it confirmed the league's top spot for Sandbach and league top scorer for Bobbie McDonnell so far this campaign.

The Ramblers travel to Ellesmere Rangers for their third game of the season on Saturday 7th August.