There was a welcome change of fortune for North Greenford United in the shape of a 4-1 victory over Chessington & Hook United at Berkeley Fields on Saturday.

After a recent shaky spell of only two points from three games, it was an important victory which they hope will mark a return to the kind of sustained form that led to the Combined Counties Premier team of the month award in December.

The win, though, was not as comfortable as the scoreline suggests. After a goalless first half, in which Chessington more than matched the home

team, the visitors went ahead on 70 minutes, soon after Darren Woods had been sent off by referee Ian Thompson following an off-the-ball incident involving United's Jack Bennett.

Although it took little more than a minute for Michael Murray to level the scores for United, Greenford left it very late before finally stamping their mark on the game and making the most of a one man advantage.

In the final 10 minutes, United at last began spreading the ball into wide areas and stretching what was by that point a very tired Chessington defence and, in another dra

matic and memorable finale, Jack Bennett applied the finishing touch to three flowing North Greenford moves to notch up his second hat-trick of the season.

United were comfortably contained by a well-organised and competitive Chessington team before the interval and, except for a James Shipperley header from a corner that hit the crossbar, and a superb Andy Myhill strike from the edge of the box which was brilliantly saved by Chessington keeper Mark Davies, there was little real threat to the visitors' goal.

For their part, Chessington put together some promising moves with front players Darren Smith, Andrew Heath and Nigel Wicks looking dangerous on occasions, but United keeper Gary Jallow was rarely tested.

In the end, the sending off was to prove significant, but for much of the second half Greenford continued to struggle to get the better of the Chessington defence, and looked short of ideas. And with 20 minutes of the match remaining it was the visitors who took the lead - Darren Smith slotting in a low cross.

As he had done the previous week, Michael Murray equalised for Greenford within a matter of minutes - driving a superb low shot into the corner.

The three-goal Bennett blitz came just as it appeared a draw was on the cards. In the 83rd minute, Andre DeLisser made a powerful run down the right before driving the ball into the box and Gary Senior dummied for Bennett to fire in from close range.

Senior also played a key part in the third goal, playing Bennett in behind the Chessington defence. Further incisive play in the final seconds enabled Bennett to complete a superb hat-trick.

This Saturday, United will aim for another win at Cobham to keep pace with the leaders.