By Andrew Gidley

Goal machine Adam Birchall claimed his third hat-trick of the season as Dover romped to their biggest win for years, at Ship Lane on Monday.

Birchall (pictured) hit four goals in all, laid claims to another and set up the other two for Ben Hunt and Barry Cogan as Martin Hayes' men won for the seventh time on the road in Blue Square Bet South this season. However, injuries to midfielder Cogan, and defender Matt Fish added to Dover's list ahead of the FA Cup game at Huddersfield on Saturday.

With injured trio Jon Wallis, Donovan Simmonds and Elliott Charles watching from the stands, Hayes introduced Perrick Briand for his first start in a reshuffled side, and named only four substitutes on the bench.

Dover made a sluggish start and were behind after 15 minutes to a goal from David Knight. The visitors responded quickly, Birchall putting them level from close range, and two minutes later added a second. He was inches away from a three-minute treble, shooting just wide from Sam Long's pass. Dover's top scorer set up strike partner Ben Hunt whose effort was blocked, but Hunt made sure with an effort in the 35th minute to make it 3-1, Long again the provider.

Birchall got his third, three minutes before half-time, curling the ball into the far corner from the edge of the area.

Hunt missed a great chance for his second two minutes after the restart, before Birchall again embarrassed the Thurrock defence. The striker's run and shot was deflected into the net off a defender, for the fifth Dover goal after 50 minutes, before he made number six, knocking the ball back for Cogan to score his first goal for the club.

Matt Fish and Cogan then limped off to be replaced by Harry Baker and Dean Hill, before Hunt's lay-off set up Birchall for his fourth 11 minutes from time, the prolific striker almost made it 8-1, his shot squeezing just past the far post.

Thurrock got their second in stoppage time, substitute Lee Roache finishing well.