Anthoney Dalton had a day to remember as his hat-trick sealed a 4-2 win for Highgate Albion against Brotherhood in a hard-fought Barnet Sunday League encounter at Southgate School Astro.

Highgate started the game brightly and it wasn’t long before Dalton had put them 1-0 up as he was on hand to slot home from close range after good work from Alan Callaghan to square the ball across goal.

Dalton doubled his tally with a clinical finish, beating the opposition keeper at his near post from distance after John McNamara’s inch-perfect pass had split the Brotherhood defence.

If there had been VAR at Sunday league level Highgate’s third goal may not have counted as the referee ruled Gaku Sato’s effort to have crossed the line.

The goal came from McNamara’s free-kick hitting the post with the goalkeeper saving Paul Reid’s follow-up before Japan-born Sato finished to make it 3-0.

Brotherhood found their way back into the game after the makeshift Highgate defence went to sleep momentarily as keeper Dave Staniforth pulled off a great save, only for the rebound to be forced over the line.

The second half was evenly fought with plenty of chances for both sides, but it was Highgate who struck first as Dalton completed his hat-trick when he headed home a Craig Gorrie free-kick.

Although Brotherhood pulled one back in the closing stages, Highgate redeemed themselves from their 3-1 defeat at the hands of the same opposition earlier in the season.