Osaretin Otote opened his account for Northwood in some style by scoring a hat-trick as his side kicked off the new Isthmian South Central campaign with a resounding 4-0 victory over Corinthian Casuals on Saturday.

Otote, who joined Woods from Waltham Abbey in February, made the breakthrough before half-time and added two more in the second half while Dan Williams completed the scoring in injury time.

The hosts included two debutants in their starting line-up – Deago Dunbar-Bonnie being preferred to Luke Brophy at left-back while Kofi Anokye-Boadi started on the right of a three-pronged attack. There were also places on the bench for 17-year-old Ben Crowder and new boy Harry McCorkell.

After a cagey start, Northwood had the first good opportunity when Williams managed to get beyond goalkeeper Kevin Manuel but scuffed his shot as he looked to convert from a tight angle.

At the other end, substitute Rory Spence, on for the injured Kenny Watson, barrelled his way beyond Dunbar-Bonnie but was thwarted by a fine block from goalkeeper Andrew McCorkell.

After Williams had tested Manuel with a low drive which was turned around the upright, Northwood has some defending to do as McCorkell blocked an effort from Reece Deakin on the angle while Spence should have done better as he broke into the box but blazed over with only McCorkell to beat.

Woods responded as Williams broke clear of the Casuals defence before being denied by the advancing Manuel. However, the hosts finally managed to break the deadlock a minute before the interval as Teddy Stacey’s low cross found its way to Otote who kept his composure to sweep the ball home for his first competitive goal for the club.

The hosts went close to adding a second in stoppage time as Manuel produced a flying save to keep out a rasping shot from Anokye-Boadi.

Northwood continued in a similar vein upon the resumption - Anokye-Boadi crashing a shot against the crossbar after he latched onto Riccardo Alexander-Greenaway’s flick-on from McCorkell’s up-field ball, Otote causing panic in the Casuals box with a mazy run as he tried to set up Williams and Carl Stewart having a shot gathered by Manuel.

Woods were given the perfect opportunity to consolidate their advantage just before the hour when they were awarded a penalty for handball after Stacey’s fierce drive from the edge of the box was blocked by a Casuals defender. Manuel kept out Williams’ spot-kick but Otote’s followed up to make it 2-0 after 59 minutes.

Northwood were now in full control, and it was no surprise when Otote completed a sublime hat-trick on 66 minutes as he cut into the box from the left flank before unleashing a shot which flew beyond Manuel and into the far corner of the net.

There was no let up from the home side as Manuel kept out an effort from the impressive Anokye-Boadi before Williams was denied by the slightest touch from the Casuals stopper.

However, McCorkell had to be at his best to preserve Northwood’s clean sheet as he produced a smart save to keep out a fiercely struck shot from Jason Evans.

Woods could be very satisfied by a job well done but they were able to add one more in the final seconds of seven minutes of added time when converted from close range after being teed up by substitute Crowder.