Andre Lopes struck a hat-trick as Oxhey Jets played their third successive cup tie, rotated and ended with a third win, beating a gutsy Bovingdon side 5-2 to reach the semi-finals of the St Mary’s Cup.

The Spartan South Midlands League outfit shocked their Combined Counties League hosts by taking the lead after just eight minutes in last night's tie.

But the celebrations had hardly stopped when Lopes equalised with a shot from just outside the area.

All eyes are on the ball as Lopes' superb second goal hist the netAll eyes are on the ball as Lopes' superb second goal hist the net (Image: Oxhey Jets FC)

A shock was on the cards again when Bovingdon retook the lead midway through the first half as their opponents were making the wrong decisions on a wet pitch following storm Bert.

However, Lopes was relishing being given the captain’s armband and he equalised for a second time in stunning fashion after 37 minutes with a dipping strike from near the touchline.

The hosts almost grabbed the lead when top scorer Dominic Mosca headed over inches but they were definitely the more pleased of the two sides to hear the half-time whistle.

George Rice forces a defender to put through his own net for Jets' fourth goalGeorge Rice forces a defender to put through his own net for Jets' fourth goal (Image: Oxhey Jets FC)

A double followed by a triple substitution and formation change saw Jets dominate the second period and it was no surprise when they took the lead after 69 minutes, Zak Mishcon coming off the bench to score his first goal for the club.

With Bovingdon starting to tire, a fourth goal followed four minutes later. This was initially credited to George Rice but later changed to an own goal after he admitted the last touch had come off a defender.

It fell to Lopes to wrap up the scoring and complete his hat-trick in the 89th minute to leave the Jets management reflecting on how they had successfully navigated the mini cup period and secure a quarter-final and two semi-final places.