FEN DERBY GALLERY: Wisbech Town singing in the rain after 5-1 victory over March Town United

A FIRST-HALF hat-trick from Dubi Ogbonna swept March Town United away tonight as Wisbech Town powered past their Fen rivals and into the Cambs Invitation Cup semi-finals.

The Fenmen waltzed to a 5-1 win at a rain-soaked GER - meaning they have now racked up 17 goals in the three Fen Derbies this season.

For the Hares and their boss Paul Crosbie, it was another frustrating night as silly mistakes virtually handed the game to their Fenland neighbours.

After a subdued start from two sides who have not played in weeks due to the wet weather, it was a free-kick from Ogbonna that sparked the game into life. The Fenmen’s top scorer curled his 16th minute effort over Hares keeper Ben Collett and into the top corner.

But, unlike the other two clashes between the sides this season, March found an immediate response.

Former Wisbech youngster Danny Emmington swept in a stunning pass, which Ash Brand volleyed against the bar. Striker Robbie Masters was on hand to collect the rebound and thunder the ball into an empty net to level the scores.

Parity lasted just three minutes before Wisbech were back in front.

Deakan Napier, playing up front as part of boss Steve Appleby’s experiments for next week’s FA Vase clash, crossed for Ogbonna to slot home a simple second of the evening.

It was a goal that seemed to kill off March’s challenge and Ogbonna had to wait just 10 more minutes for his hat-trick.

The striker collected another cross from Napier and, although his first effort was well saved by Collett, he prodded the rebound home to send the Fenmen in 3-1 up at the interval.

Ogbonna came within a post-width of a fourth before he and his strike partner Napier were substituted in the 57th minute. They were replaced by teenage star Jack Friend and talisman Chris Bacon, whose first task was to dispatch a penalty.

The referee pointed to the spot after Collett spilled a free-kick and hauled down an onrushing Fenmen attacker as they pounced on the rebound.

Bacon hammered the penalty home and it seemed to be just a matter of how many the visitors would score.

The answer was one more - and it came in the 79th minute courtesy of the trickery of Rogan McGeorge.

The midfielder, whose only blemish on a scintillating performance was a yellow card for diving, jinked effortlessly to the byline before teeing up substitute Lewis Clayton to tap home.

It was a goal which sealed an impressive performance from the Fenmen, who will discover their semi-final opponents next week.

• FOR FULL REACTION TO THE FEN DERBY SEE FRIDAY’S PAPER.