BEN Whitehead warmed up for Wantage Town’s FA Cup derby at home to Didcot Town on Friday by scoring six times in two Division 1 South & West victories in the Evo-Stik Southern League.

The striker smashed four goals in a remarkable 9-0 drubbing of Bashley last Wednesday.

And he followed that up with two more as The Freds defeated Shortwood United 3-1 at Alfredian Park on Saturday.

Against Shortwood, Wantage opened the scoring on 25 minutes when Whitehead pounced on a loose ball to fire home from 25 yards.

After an injury to Stephen Davis, time was added on at the end of the half, and the match sprung into life.

Liam Meredith headed the visitors level.

However, Wantage restored their lead just before half-time when defender Stuart Cattell nodded home Whitehead’s corner.

The hosts made the points safe on 56 minutes when Whitehead lashed the ball home after good play from Nick Thorne and Sam Collier.

Wantage Tn: Cavanagh, Barder, Cattell, Leigh, Hulbert-Thomas, Thorne, Glover, Davis (Collier 45), Ferris, Whitehead, Bruce. Subs not used: Clarke, Carbon.

Wantage went in at half-time against Bashley with a four-goal cushion and the goals kept flowing.

They took the lead on three minutes when Whitehead slotted in a penalty after Bashley’s keeper brought down Adam Bruce.

A great individual effort by Thorne doubled the lead.

Whitehead nicked the ball off a defender to make it three, then Bruce tapped in Thorne’s cross.

Whitehead completed his hat-trick with a fine finish five minutes into the second half and Bruce got his second on the hour.

Cattell slotted home from Sam Barder’s corner, before Bashley’s keeper was sent off for tripping Whitehead – and the Wantage forward punished him further by netting from the free kick.

Bruce then completed his hat-trick.