Luke Burdon scored a first-half hat-trick as Market Hotel thumped Quested in the DFDS Kent Sunday Premier Cup Final at the Gallagher Stadium.

A close match was expected but Burdon’s masterclass meant it was anything but as the Ashford & District League side blew away their Medway opponents and five-time winners.

Market’s front three were irresistible, with Troy Howard and Gary Lockyer also on target, along with midfielder Jarred Trespaderne.

“I thought we started the game really well,” said Market manager Liam Smith.

“Our pressing game was evident from the start and the front three were on fire, so I can’t ask for any more.

“Quested are five-time champions and an experienced side but I thought we had too much for them today.

“We all work together, we all drink together, we’re all mates.

“Out of the starting XI today, nine people work for the same company, Network Planning Solutions, who are massive supporters of ours through their sponsorship.

“We’re all just drinking mates really and all committed to the same cause.

“We’ve been working on this for two years now.

“We got thrown out last year for fielding a contracted player but we got our just rewards today.

“We might get invited to the nationals next, hopefully.

“That’s the plan, to follow SE Dons into the nationals.

“This side is nowhere near done.”

Market took the lead in the seventh minute.

Captain Ryan Smith, a rock at the back, played a ball over the top for Burdon to run on to and lob keeper Stephen Branton.

A lovely move down the left led to the second goal five minutes later with Smith, Sammy Adams and Charlie Dickens combining before Lockyer played a cross to Howard at the back post.

Howard laid the ball back to Trespaderne, lurking just outside the box, and he fired into the bottom corner with his left foot.

Number three followed in the 17th minute.

That man Smith was instrumental again, working the ball to Lockyer, whose cross was met on the volley by Burdon.

Lockyer hit the bar from a 35-yard free-kick and James Rogers went close following Howard’s long throw before Smith blocked at the other end after Harry Lester got free in the box.

Quested really needed to take that chance - their first genuine sniff of goal - and they soon paid the price as Burdon completed his hat-trick on the half-hour mark.

And what a goal it was from the Lydd Town striker, who collected the ball wide-left and went on a brilliant solo run before finding the bottom corner for a 4-0 lead.

Brad Schafer hit the post as Quested almost pulled one back before half-time, although Market might have made it five when Howard squared to Sammy Adams, who was denied by Branton.

Quested made a better start to the second half but were picked off on the counter-attack as Market went 5-0 up on 54 minutes.

This time, Smith fed Howard, who played the ball to Lockyer before continuing his run into the box.

Lockyer, who’s just joined Faversham from Ashford, saw his strike blocked on the line by Greg Smith but Howard buried the loose ball.

Market keeper Connor Collins made an outstanding save from Schafer’s thumping volley and also thwarted James Alderman before Harry Lester headed over when well placed to score.

Having kept their clean sheet intact, Market completed the scoring four minutes from time with an outstanding 25-yard strike into the top corner from Lockyer - a deserved goal for the bustling striker.

Market Hotel: Connor Collins, Jordan Tomsett, Charlie Dickens, Ryan Smith, Calvin Sedenu, Jarred Trespaderne, Sammy Adams, James Rogers, Gary Lockyer, Luke Burdon, Troy Howard. Subs: Kenny Pogue, Ryan Philpott, Mamadou Diallo, Brad Baker, Tyler Sterling.

Quested: Stephen Branton, Greg Smith, Kieran Sharp, Freeman Rogers, Fraser Rogers, Michael Jenner, Brad Schafer, Harry Lester, George Monger, Fjord Rogers, James Alderman. Subs: Ethan Stewart, Curtis Ripley, Lewis Taylor, Ollie Cotton, Ben Brown.

Referee: Kennedy Kikulwe.