Striker Jamie Byatt banged a hat-trick past Walton & Hersham and then declared that Corinthian Casuals can stay in Ryman Division One South.

Despite the 4-1 win at Stompond Lane on Tuesday night, which included a cracking volley from Dave Hodges, the Casuals remain in the bottom two.

However, a run of form this month that has garnered seven points from a possible 12 has sent confidence pouring through Casuals’ veins.

But it was not enough to keep boss Kim Harris in his job after he was released following Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at home to Merstham.

Harris was in his second spell as boss after he stepped down due to ill health just weeks into this campaign.

Now, as then, Brian Adamson has taken temporary charge, and in Byatt he has a man desperate to score as many goals as possible.

Byatt said: “It was good to get the points, and I enjoyed getting that hat-trick.

“Saturday was a lapse, so it was good to get back to it.”

He added: “There’s no reason why we cannot stay up. If we carry on playing how we did in the second half, then why not?

“But we need to take this result into training, work on a few things and then take that into the game at Faversham. We’re confident we can get something there.”

Keeping hold of Byatt will prove key, and although he now has 18 goals in all competitions this season and is attracting attention from elsewhere, he is happy where he is.

“I love playing week in week out for Casuals, I love banging the goals in for them,” he said.

“They have looked after me and I have a lot of respect for them.

“Tony Davis, Luke Gerrard and Tommy Williams are doing a great job here, and long may it last.”

Casuals go to play-off chasing Faversham on Saturday.

Wimbledon Times:

Gone: Kim Harris was released from his manager's job after Casuals' defeat to Merstham last weekend