Canterbury City seemed to undergo a transformation on Saturday when they defeateded Bearsted 6-1.

Impressive team-work reappeared, defending became more confident and, inspired by a Dave Read hat-trick, the attack looked sharp.

The attitude of the whole team was positive from the start, yet manager Dave Fairclough had faced familiar problems with injuries and absentees.

He had to move Anthony Searle from right to left-back, put defender Luke Jackson into midfield and play Read (pictured) up front with Royston Gough and Scott Lawford.

It was Read’s strength, clinical finishing and ability to hold the ball up under pressure that provided the key to the much-needed victory.

Bearsted were no pushovers and it took all the experience of City’s new goalkeeper Paul Hyde to defend against a succession of first-half corners and attacks. The former Wycombe and Dover keeper has already added a great deal of confidence to the defence.

Although City took a 10th-minute lead when Read turned a low centre from Lawford into goal, Bearsted responded solidly, keeping City under pressure until they were completely unravelled by a superb move.

Gough broke away and swept the ball to Lawford, who played a perfect cross into the box for Read to head in.

Hyde continued to defy all that Bearsted could offer and City benefited by taking a three-goal half-time lead.

Craig Southern, a tireless midfield provider, sent a through pass to Gough who hit the Bearsted goalkeeper with his shot but managed to roll in the rebound while on the ground.

City continued to improve. Bearsted could not cope with Gough’s pace and he took City into a four-goal lead when brightly drawing out the keeper and slotting the ball home.

A defensive lapse allowed Jeff Swift to head in but Bearsted lost their chance of recovery when Gough was fouled and Ian Hossick smacked in the penalty before Read completed his hat-trick.