Five first half goals against FC Elmstead moved AFC Greenwich Borough back into second place in the Southern Counties East Football League First Division.

Although the contest was all but settled by half time, the visitors refused to go down without a fight and deserve some credit for a much improved second half. 

Abel Vendrells-Parcerisa terrorised the left side of the Elmstead defence in the first period and his low cross in the third minute was turned home by Oghosa Williams.

Williams then got in behind the Elmstead defence and his low shot was palmed out by Thomas Cleary as far as Stefan Payne but he delayed shooting and was crowded out. The veteran striker then burst through one-on-one with Cleary and the visitors’ goalkeeper spread himself well to make an excellent save.

Once again, Payne had a sight on goal but got no power in his shot and Cleary saved easily. However, Payne was not to be denied his goal and another Vendrells-Parcerisa cross picked him out and he rose to head home easily.

Wilfred Evans then surged through the middle before sending Williams through and he was denied by another superb Cleary save. Payne hooked over after a further Vendrells-Parcerisa centre was headed out to him, before Cleary had an easier save to make from a Payne twenty-five yard effort.

Just after the half hour mark, Bradley Ryan created space for Vendrells-Parcerisa and he again crossed accurately. Williams was the beneficiary as he headed home unchallenged.

Fraser Page had a shot deflected wide for the visitors before Williams created another shot that was beaten out by Cleary. Arthur Penny blasted well over for Greenwich then the busy Elmstead goalkeeper made another great save to push aside a Ryan free kick.

As the game entered first half stoppage time, Payne gave Sam Oguntayo a sight of goal and his diagonal shot flew inside the far post for Borough’s fourth goal. There was still time for the hosts to add a fifth before the break when Vendrells-Parcerisa chipped Cleary and Williams got the last touch to complete his hat-trick before apologising to the wide man for nicking his goal.

Both teams made changes at the break and the visitors pulled one back two minutes into the second period. Thomas Goodayle sent Page away and he clipped it beyond Greenwich goalkeeper Javarn Pitterson.

Substitute Jamie Fearn had a shot deflected and Pitterson did well to tip it over, then Perez Goumou blasted high over the bar. Page drew a good save out of the Greenwich custodian at the near post before Elmstead won a series of corners cumulating in Fred Aikon heading wide at the far post.

Vendrells-Parcerisa created another opportunity for Williams but he only got a glancing header on it and it drifted wide then two substitutes, Nathan Godziemski and James Miles, combined to free Williams and his well struck shot drew another superb save out of Cleary.

Another crisp Greenwich passing move made space for Oguntayo, however, Cleary was well placed to make the save and the overworked goalkeeper again thwarted Williams with a great block after Miles had sent him through.

Both teams had late shots that failed to hit the target before the entertaining game drew to a close.

Victory for Greenwich took them to within six points of leaders SE Dons having played three games fewer while Elmstead remain five points shy of the play-off places with nine matches remaining.  

AFC Greenwich Borough: Pitterson; Panyi, Evans (Miles 46), Sesay, Oguntayo; Penney; Vendrells-Parcerisa, Nokoe, Ryan (Godziemski 76); Payne (Elliott 76), Williams.

Subs not used: Komas, Sartori.

Goalscorers: Williams (3) (33), (45+3), Payne (14), Oguntayo (45)

Yellow cards: None 

FC Elmstead: Cleary; Alliband (Dwight-Thomas 79), Green, Faithorn, Saunders, Myles (Fearn 46); Croucher (Neale 46); Goodayle, Aikon (Fill 80); Page, Goumou (Kommu 69).

Subs not used: None.

Goalscorer: Page (47)

Yellow cards: None

Referee: Kieran Williamson

Assistants: Bright Amedomu and Guy Touko

Attendance: 113

Pictures supplied by Adetoro Ayodeji.