Shaun Welford help start the Homelands promotion party on a record-breaking day for the experienced striker as Ashford United lifted the Southern Counties East League Premier Division title beating 10-man Rochester United 7-0.

Welford was delayed getting to the game after suffering a puncture on the M20, but was fully pumped up here, scoring his second successive hat-trick to take his tally to 48 for the season and break Stuart Zanone's club mark.

United started the day on the same points total as second placed Crowborough - 89 with a plus-13 superior goal difference, and cruised home against depleted Rochester - who they beat 8-0 in the return fixture last October - while the Sussex side drew 0-0 at Hollands & Blair.

Welford broke the record, scoring number six with seven minutes left peeling away to celebrate by removing shirt and earning a booking, but there was nothing to stop his joy after a marvellous season for him and the club.

He started the scoring, putting United in front after 15 minutes with a left footed strike that went under goalkeeper Michael Elder's body.

One of his trademark long throws made the second for Dan Stubbs six minutes before half-time, before the turning point of the afternoon followed seven minutes after the break.

Welford went down in the box under the challenge of defender Aaron Burrett - who was sent off for his second yellow card. - then stepped up to send Elder the wrong way and equal the record.

He had a part to play in the fourth as well, Jason Goodchild crashing home, substitute Ryan Palmer's trickery earning him the first of his two, five minutes later.

Welford hit the sixth, before Palmer added the seven with a minute left.

SCEL President Ray Brown and chairperson Denise Richmond presented the trophy.

Ashford United: Kamurasi, West, Walker, Botterill, Avery (Savage 71 mins), Kingwell, Stubbs (Palmer 56 mins), Davisson (Stone 77 mins), Welford, Goodchild, Hill

Subs not used: Eldridge, Vines

Rochester: Elder, Nash, Rothery, Parrish, Burrett, Box, Kendall (Hume 69mins J. Alderman, Gonzalez-Bello, Hurcomb, Collins (Porter 77 mins)