Boss Mickey Doyle hailed the perfect hat-trick as Luke Burdon’s treble saw Lydd to victory at FC Elmstead.

Burdon made it five goals in three appearances for his new club as third-placed Town won 4-2 at Southern Counties East Division 1 play-off rivals FC Elmstead.

The striker's early header was cancelled out as Lydd trailed 2-1 but he squared the match before half-time and completed his hat-trick after Timmy Babington made it 3-2.

“It’s a perfect hat-trick,” said Doyle. “The first one is a header from a great cross from Tyler Sterling - he’s whipped it in like Kevin De Bruyne.

“The second one’s a right-foot lob from 30 yards and the third is left foot under the keeper.

“You can’t ask for any more than that.”

Lydd weren’t at the races for much of the first half but showed their class after the break.

It’s been a theme this season and Doyle and his backroom team are determined to get to the bottom of it.

“We didn’t play well at all in the first half,” said Doyle.

“There was no intensity or purpose to our play.

“We have the data from the tracking vests and you could see there was a massive dip in intensity from the 16th minute to half-time, with a few peaks where we’ve had to work a bit harder.

"We asked them to up the intensity and, second half, we showed what we’re capable of when we get after teams. Elmstead couldn’t live with us.

“We’ve been a second-half team this season, and that’s why we didn’t panic at half-time, but we’ve got to make sure we compete for 90 minutes.

“I’ve asked the coaches to look at the warm-up and I’ve got to look at my team-talk - maybe I’m better at half-time than I am before a game.

“We’ve all got to look at ourselves, from me down to the young guys who help out."

Lydd visit Bridon Ropes this Saturday (3pm).