Stockton started this Teesside derby against Redcar Athletic without James Ward and David Dowd, but welcomed back James Crossman and Stephen Roberts.
Stockton produced a much improved performance against a strong Redcar side after a couple of disappointing performances against Hordon CW and Jarrow FC.
The opening goal came after 12 minutes, Chris Stockton danced down the left wing, raced into the box and crossed for Kallum Hannah to head the ball past debutant goalkeeper David Cochrane.
Redcar had a great chance to make the scores level after 19 minutes, when the Stockton defence allowed a Sam Webster cross go to the far post were Kieran Stares headed the ball back across the face of goal but also the wrong side of the post.
This proved to be the best chance Redcar had and were punished for not scoring as two goals in five minutes put Stockton 3-0 up.
The first after 22 minutes saw MacAuley Langstaff tear down the right flank and crossed the ball for Chris Stockton to head the ball powerfully past Cochrane.
Unfortunately Longstaff was unwell and had to leave the field after 24 minutes to be replaced by Matthew Garbutt.
This didn’t deter Stockton as they won a penalty after 27 minutes that Kallum Hannah dourly dispatched to the goalkeepers right hand side.
The second half saw Stockton bombard the Redcar goal but Cochrane prevented the score from increasing.
Redcar were now playing on the break and from one of these Stockton were reduced to 10 men, Redcar’s Michael Woodhouse raced onto a long ball chased by Tom Coulthard, both players collided just outside the area, referee Will Pare gave Redcar a free kick and sent Coulthard off as last man in the 65th minute, the resulting free kick posed no threat to Stockton’s goal.
But Hannah kept the best till last as he completed his 9th hat trick of this season, after 81 minutes he won the ball 35 yards out and sent a fierce volley that flew past Cochrane to secure a fine 4-0 win for Stockton Town.
