LAVERSTOCK & Ford were powerless to prevent Zac Willett netting a hat-trick as they suffered a 4-1 defeat to Horndean at Five Heads Park.

Willett headed in at the back post to open the scoring for the hosts on 21 minutes, before doubling his tally on the half hour mark.

Following a foul in the Lavvy box, up stepped Willett to make it 2-0 from the penalty spot.

Archie Lovegrove returned from the sin bin for the Bulldogs but it did not stop them going three behind before the break.

Sam Hookey took advantage of a defensive lapse to virtually kill off the contest for the Deans.

Lavvy tried to rally in the second period. Chae Sykes fired over from range before pulling one back from inside the box just past the hour mark.

But Willett was not to be denied a treble as he sent a looping effort into the net to cap off the scoring.

Defeat left Lavvy ninth in the league table.

The Bulldogs make the trip to face Buckland Athletic in the third round of the FA Vase on Saturday (3pm).