A stunning first half hat trick by the scintillating Sean Shields set St Albans City on the path to a resounding 6-2 FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round victory over Ashford Town (Middx) on Saturday as David Howell’s Saints notched up a fifth consecutive victory.

Shields has been in outstanding form during the early weeks of the season and possesses the potential to blossom into one of the finest wingers seen at St Albans since the likes of Jimmy King in the 1990’s and Tony Turley 40 years ago.

Ashford, of the Southern League Division One Central, struggled to get the ball off Shields all afternoon but City did not have things all their own way and until scoring twice in six minutes midway through the half there was a danger of Town taking the lead.

City were without the injured duo of Barry Hayles and James Gray from the side that won in midweek at Gosport and almost had to make do without Moussa Diarra who only arrived at Short Lane 30 minutes before kick off.

As it was City maintained their record of not having lost when Diarra has been in the starting XI.

There is much at Short Lane to distract spectators with the ground having a backdrop of an oil refinery and Heathrow Airport but with both teams having scored within the opening eight minutes all eyes were focused on a pitch that was sun-kissed throughout.

City made the opening breakthrough on seven minutes after what been a quiet start.

A patient move down the City left saw the ball played into Shields on the edge of the penalty area. After twisting away from Alex Duffy and wide of Jack Mullen the 20-year-old shot left-footed across keeper Paul McCarthy and inside the keeper’s left hand upright.

Virtually before the celebrations had died down Ashford were level when Duffy chipped a good cross in from the Town left for Mark Bitmead to send a cushioned right-footed volley back across the goal and into the net via the inside Nick Jupp’s right hand upright.

And just a minute after that Diarra headed goalwards from a Richard Graham corner with Simon Martin, making his first start since April, diverting the ball over the bar.

More goals looked inevitable at either end with Dan Brown squandering a good chance on the break for the Ash Trees while a penetrating meandering run by Shields was curtailed by Bitmead’s block close to goal.

For a while Ashford looked likely to be the side seizing the initiative. On 15 minutes Jupp made a tremendous save from Brown’s header following a Bitmead cross and Diarra did well to lunge in to block Brown’s quick follow up from a tight angle.

The pressure was maintained with Kofi Lockhart-Adams chipping the ball into the goalmouth and somehow Ryan Watts, jumping in front of Brown, managed to deflect Brown’s header over the top.

Indeed it was somewhat against the run of play when City regained the lead on 23 minutes.

Lewis Toomey, for once not amongst the goals, saw his low cross from the right partially cleared as far as Shields who took just one touch before unleashing a right-footed drive past the sprawling McCarthy from just inside the penalty area.

Six minutes later and Ashford were chasing the game as Shields completed the Saints first hat trick in the competition for 13 years.

Martin and Graham worked the ball down the City left. Graham’s cross was stabbed away from goal and although Martin was just unable to pounce on the rebound Shields was on hand to beat McCarthy with another crisp low drive, this time with his left foot.

Ashford’s desire suffered a severe dent on 35 minutes when a Chris Seeby shot was possibly harshly adjudged to have been handled inside the penalty area.

Micah Hyde sent McCarthy the wrong way from the penalty spot to give the Saints an interval 4-1 lead with only a diving save by the keeper from a Diarra header stopping the margin from being greater.

Four minutes into the second period and Town were reeling for a fifth time.

Graham crossed from the City left with McCarthy scrambling the ball wide as Martin’s header hit the foot of the post, Toomey latched onto the loose ball and again the keeper saved well but could do nothing to stop Martin from hammering in the rebound for his first FA Cup goal for the Saints in seven years.

With such a comfortable lead St Albans were able to play a neat passing game for long stretches of the half with Ashford getting just fleeting touches, for a while it was text book controlled football by the Saints.

Even so, Ashford, were not without chances with Jupp saving from Lodge, Bitmead going close from a free kick and the combined forces of Shields and Jupp were needed to deny Brown right on the goal line.

City secured their highest score in the competition for 18 years on 76 minutes when substitute Chris Henry beat McCarthy with a clever lobbed effort from 18 yards.

The home side hit back two minutes later when Town substitute Samad Kazi clipped a good ball into the goalmouth for Lockhart-Adams to score with a volley off the underside of the crossbar.

Shields’ hat trick is the first by a St Albans player away from home in the FA Cup since Fred Fuller bagged three during a 5-1 win at Wealdstone in 1950.

The draw for the 3rd Qualifying Round takes place on Monday morning, 24 September.

City’s wins over Harrow and Ashford have so far earned the club £7,500 from the FA Cup prize fund and that figure will be doubled if they are also successful in the next round.

Ashford Town (Middx): P.McCarthy, H.Knock, E.Thomas, R.Canderton, J.Mullen, S.Weight, A.Duffy (P.Luckins 46), A.Lodge, D.Brown, K.Lockhart-Adams (J.Bennett 78), M.Bitmead (S.Kazi 74), subs; C.Robinson, J.Fuller.

St Albans City: N.Jupp, C.Seeby, R.Watts, D.Ijaha, M.Diarra, D.Gordon, Se.Shields (H.Mackie 84), M.Hyde, L.Toomey (J.Constant 78), S.Martin (C.Henry 64), R.Graham, subs; L.Eadie, M.Taylor, E.Bailey, N.Hardy.

Booked: Diarra.

Goals: 7 0-1 Shields, 8 1-1 Bitmead, 23 1-2 Shields 29 1-3 Shields, 35 1-4 Hyde (p), 48 1-5 Martin, 76 1-6 Henry, 78 2-6 Lockhart-Adams.

Referee: Barry James.

Att: 176.