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Merton boosted their promotion chances with an impressive 6-2 demolition of Hook Youth in Beddington.  The hosts were fast out of the blocks and two excellent openings were created for Craig Stanley inside the first five minutes, but the shots were too weak to trouble the keeper.  Hook then began to play and they found a way through on two occasions but both shots were driven narrowly wide.  New signing Nicholas Holley was prominent for Merton down the left flank and the winger went close with two powerful shots that flashed past the wrong side of the post.  Merton went in front on ten minutes when Louis Barron-Pell got in front of a defender to convert Jamie Streat's fine cross.  Hook were quickly back on the attack, but the Merton defence was looking in the mood today with excellent defending in evidence across the whole back line.  Jamie Streat was the star in midfield, and Merton increased their advantage after 20 minutes. George King found Jack Malin in the box and the ball was hustled through to Louis Barron-Pell who cleverly set up Craig Stanley for a close-range volley that gave the keeper no chance. Hook responded and tested Warren McCourt with a couple of free kicks and an effort from the edge of the box. A minute before the break Hook conceded a third when a defender diverted a dangerous low cross into his own net when under pressure from Craig Stanley.

Four minutes into the second half Merton increased their lead when substitute Daniel Johnson stole in on the blind side to latch onto a well-taken free kick and slot the ball into the back of the net. The visitors were now on the backfoot as Merton dominated with Jamie Streat combining well with Tsepher Sawdon to create threatening raids down the right wing. There was also danger on the other flank as Nicholas Holley made several surging runs at the defence before loosing possession. Despite being on top Merton could not penetrate the hard-worked Hook defence, and eventually the visitors fought their way back into the game. Merton survived a couple of goalmouth scrambles, and then Warren McCourt was forced to make a terrific save. The subsequent withdrawal of Adam Marie unsettled the home defence further, and Hook scored on 23 minutes after a mistake from Warren McCourt allowed Hook to drive the ball home. A minute later the ball was in the Merton net again when a Hook forward ran in between two defenders to convert a low cross from eight yards. Two minutes later Merton finished off the opposition when Nicholas Holley crossed and George King netted from close range with a very clever flick. In the dying minutes Merton scored a sixth thanks to a moment of magic on the left flank from Jack Malin. The winger received a nice pass from Lewis West on the half-way line and then beat three defenders in a powerful swashbuckling run before cutting inside and dispatching a superb 15-yard shot into the top corner of the net.

Reporter's man of the match: Jonathan Kehoe.

Team: Warren McCourt; Adam Marie, Jonathan Kehoe, Lewis West, Spud Bradley; George King, Jamie Streat, Jack Malin, Nicholas Holley; Craig Stanley, Louis Barron-Pell. Sub: Tsepher Sawdon, Daniel Johnson.