Epsom swept past Southampton with a superb second-half performance to keep alive their dreams of promotion from Hants/Surrey Division One.

Alex Pizzey grabbed a hat-trick and James Midmer hit two, while a Scott Barton strike and an own goal sealed a comfortable 7-2 win on the road.

However, the first half was a tight affair and Southampton started the match brightly with a series of long aerial balls from the back finding forward runners and creating chances.

And they took an early lead from a short corner, with a strong dragflick going in off the post.

Epsom equalised almost straight away when Barton slung a ball into the circle which was diverted past the keeper by a Southampton defender.

The hosts regained the lead soon after from another short corner - this time the first effort was saved but the rebound was bundled in.

In a topsy-turvey opening, Epsom again equalised in fairly short order with Pizzey clinically converting a short corner to make it 2-2.

Epsom were starting to flow nicely and took the lead for the first time when Barton fired home another short corner move to make it 3-2 at half time.

Epsom stepped up through the gears after the break, with some slick passing and movement enabling a front four of Pizzey, Barton, Mike Atkinson and Midmer to run riot.

It was not long before Atkinson jinked down the right and found Midmer to make it 4-2 from close range.

Then another slick move saw Barton find Midmer, who in turn found Pizzey who slammed a superb reverse stick finish into the top corner.

Epsom were pouring forward at this stage, and another slick short corner move saw Joe Bond’s shot deflected home by Midmer for 6-2.

Southampton seemed to have no answer, with even the aerial balls which had served them so well in the first half breaking down.

Epsom engineered a number of further chances as the second half wore on, with Murrell twice denied by good saves at short corners.

After weathering some late Southampton pressure, Epsom scored a seventh just two minutes from time, Midmer finding Atkinson who unselfishly rolled in Pizzey to complete a deserved hat-trick from close range.

Pizzey came close to a fourth with a thumping reverse stick drive flying over the bar.

Epsom are now third in the table, level on points with second-placed Barnes, who, boasting the league's top two goal-scorers, have a superior goal difference.

Epsom host struggling Yateley this weekend.