PAUL Fewings scored his first hat-trick for Chesham United as the Berks and Bucks Cup holders advanced to the semi-finals of this year's competition with a 5-0 demolition of Chalfont St Peter.

But the Ryman Premier Division Generals needed a half-time rocket from manager Bob Dowie before they saw off the challenge of third division Chalfont who played the entire match with full back Steve Nott-Macarie in goal because regular stopper Luke Blackmore pulled his hamstring at work.

The victory ended Chesham's sorry run of five matches without a win and Dowie hopes it will kickstart Chesham's season.

He said: "We've been suffering the Hereford blues. We haven't been the same side since we went out of the FA Trophy to them.

"We've had some disappointing results and I feel that the lads' edge has gone and we've got to work hard to get that back.

"We've got pull each other together and help each other through this. I'm not happy with the way we're passing the ball. We're making poor decisions all over the pitch.

"We were better in the second half but I said to the lads at half time that if 50 per cent of your decisions are the wrong ones you can't play. We've got to get back to basics.

"We've got the talent in the team, but we've got to start doing the simple things right again. We've got to learn to pass and move again because we're very predictable at the moment.

"It's laziness and it's a state of mind. They are still thinking about what could have been instead of thinking about finishing the season in style and that's what's important to me."

Dowie plans to freshen things up for tomorrow's game at home to Hendon by introducing on-loan centre forward Richard Newberry who he has signed from Basingstoke for a month.

He could get the nod above Wayne Andrews who looked a shadow of the player who was invited to a week-long trial by Nationwide League Oldham earlier in the season.

Andrews scrambled in United's fifth after Fewings' treble and a Lee Spiller penalty had put United in command but Dowie was not happy with his performance.

Dowie said: "Wayne has got to start playing with a smile on his face again. He's in a bit of a rut and he seems to think the world is against him. But the only thing that is going to help Wayne Andrews is Wayne. He's got to get sunny again and get himself freed up again.

"I don't know whether it has got anything to do with the speculation that bigger clubs were looking at him but he is not looking like himself."

But the boss was full of praise for half-time substitute Kieran Corcoran. Corcoran has recovered from a kidney operation and looked much more like his old self.

He said: "I'm very keen on Kieran. His decision making is super and he's a very bright little player. He looked the part when he came on."

Chesham are playing Hendon tomorrow, who are fifth from bottom but are one of the form sides in the division. But Chesham will be looking to carry on their good home record with a victory.

In Division One, Thame boss Andy Sinnott is hoping his side's supporters will have woken up from last Saturday's game to come down to Windmill Stadium for their match against Bromley.

Thame drew 0-0 with Staines last weekend, thereby helping Staines maintain their run of 0-0 home draws, now three in all.

United also played in midweek in the Oxfordshire's Senior Cup quarter final against Hook Norton, Hellenic League Division One leaders and sponsored by the local brewery.

They ran out 8-2 winners with Wayne Cort grabbing a hat-trick, Jefferson Louis and Justin Merritt scoring two apiece and Martin Brown also scoring.

Sinnott said: "It was a good work-out for the lads. We've been creating chances and not putting them away but the finishing was good on Tuesday."

But tomorrow's match will be tougher with Bromley attempting to stay out of the bottom three.