Farnham Town returned to winning ways in style with an emphatic 6-0 win at home to Braintree Town in the National League South.

Billy Clifford’s early opener and five goals from George Alexander fired the Town to an impressive victory on a wet and windy afternoon at The Memorial Ground.

The visitors had the first effort at goal of the afternoon in the second minute, when Alexandru-Leonard Bolovan’s ambitious overhead kick went comfortably over the bar.

The Town took the lead on four minutes, when Brandon Mason’s cross from the left found Clifford at the far post, who confidently volleyed home past Braintree keeper Ben Hughes.

Farnham doubled their advantage two minutes later, when debutant Marcel Lavinier whipped in a cross to Alexander, who fired home with a diving volley.

The Town nearly went 3-0 up in the tenth minute, when Bobby-Joe Taylor let fly from the edge of the box with a left-footed volley which whistled just wide of the right-hand post.

Farnham went close again two minutes later, when Jack Spong’s pass found Lavinier, who drove forward to the edge of the box and hits a left-footed shot which deflected off Michael Olarewaju and was parried away by Hughes.

The Iron nearly pulled a goal back on 14 minutes, when Fletcher Hubbard’s curling right-footed free-kick from just outside the box was well held by Farnham keeper Michael Eacott.

Braintree had another attempt at goal five minutes later, when Elliot Thorpe’s effort from 25 yards out went comfortably over the bar.

Ben Isaacson then let fly for the visitors with a powerful shot from distance on the half-hour mark which Eacott did well to parry behind for a corner.

Farnham had the next effort at goal in the 34th minute, when Taylor’s curling left-footed shot from just outside the box went over the bar.

The Town had another effort three minutes later when a short corner was played to Taylor on the edge of the box, whose first-time left-footed effort was deflected behind for a corner.

The hosts went close again on 43 minutes, when Mason’s left-footed effort was tipped behind for a corner by Hughes at his near post.

Farnham manager Paul Johnson made one substitution at half-time, with captain Ryan Kinnane replacing Sam Hutchinson.

The Town went 3-0 up in the 59th minute when Mason played in Miles Obodo, who unselfishly squared the ball for Alexander to tap home at the back post.

Farnham nearly scored a fourth three minutes later when Taylor squared the ball across the goal to Alexander, whose effort was well saved by Hughes.

Johnson made a double change on 66 minutes, with Conrad Hunt and Mat Mackenzie replacing Lavinier and Josh Tobin. Johnson made another double substitution four minutes later, with Jordan Alves and Trae Cook-Appiah replacing Spong and Obodo.

The Town won a penalty in the 78th minute when Cook-Appiah was fouled by Hughes as he tried to round the Braintree keeper. Alexander stepped up from the spot and completed his hat-trick as his penalty went in despite Hughes getting a strong hand to Alexander’s effort.

Alexander got his fourth of the afternoon on 81 minutes when Taylor’s shot from the edge of the box was parried by Hughes to Alexander, who tapped home into the empty net.

Alexander scored his fifth in the 88th minute when Cook-Appiah crossed from the left for Alexander to cushion the ball home from a couple of yards out.

Next up for Farnham is a trip to Chesham United in the National League South on Tuesday, October 27 (7.45pm kick-off).