Bajner back with a bang

Southampton 1-6 West Ham United

Balint Bajner enjoyed a stunning return to club duties with a hat-trick on Saturday having also scored a treble on international duty with Hungary.

The young striker, a summer recruit, had helped his country to qualify for the Elite round of the European Under-19 Championship at the end of last month, including a 16-minute treble in a 6-0 defeat of San Marino. He underlined his good form with a brilliant treble away to Southampton Under-18s -although the lively Northern Irish youth international Daniel Kearns was also deserving of the spotlight after a superb attacking display.

Tony Carr's team had been looking to bounce back after a home defeat by Chelsea last time but faced tough opposition in Southampton. Kearns opened the scoring with a strong run and deft finish over the keeper on the quarter-hour mark before Bajner doubled the advantage 20 minutes later after turning his marker and shooting low into the corner.

The Saints pulled one back ten minutes after half-time, a goal which gave no indication of the scoring spree to come as Bajner completed his hat-trick either side of an Ollie Lee long-ranger and Anthony Edgar wrapped things up with another drive from distance.

West Ham United: Street, Spence, Fry (Brown 75), Eyjolfsson (Brookes 78), McNaughton, Edgar, Abdulla (Okus 45) , Lee, Bajner, Grasser, Kearns
Subs not used: Mehmet, Montano, Barrett