Ebbsfleet United 5 Hungerford Town 0 match report: Toby Edser scores hat-trick for National League South champions

Toby Edser scored a brilliant hat-trick as champions Ebbsfleet signed off in style against relegated Hungerford in National League South.

The Fleet turned on the style in front of 2,155 at Stonebridge Road with Edser – not for the first time this season – at the heart of their display.

It took the Fleet just70 minutes to show the gap between top and bottom. Darren McQueen crossed from inside the box for Toby Edser to slot home.

Hungerford, already relegated before their trip to Stonebridge Road, posed a threat on the break but too often they lacked quality despite the low-key pace to the game at times.

Ebbsfleet started to increase the tempo before the break. A throw from keeper Mark Cousins caught out the visiting defence and McQueen used his pace to turn his marker on halfway. He ran to the edge of the box but then saw his left-foot shot trickle inches wide of the upright.

McQueen was clearly revelling in a central attacking role alongside Shaq Coulthirst, the first time he’s been deployed in that position from the off this season.

Greg Cundle then exchanged passes with Coulthirst before a fine tackle by Rhys Tyler cleared the danger and prevented a certain second goal.

But the Fleet were not to be denied and they doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time. A clever short corner from Josh Wright saw him combined with Coulthirst and centre for Cundle to turn home his 13th goal of the season.

Ebbsfleet introduced Christian N’Guessan at the break and they started the second half as they finished the first – slicing through the Hungerford defence.

They were gifted their third goal on 49 minutes when visiting keeper Max Evans got himself into a tangle at the back and Coulthirst’s closing down paid off as he turned the