A MONTH'S loan at Staines Town has done Basingstoke Town's Tim Sills a power of good.

The rejuvenated striker announced his return to the Camrose Ground by blasting a hat-trick in Tuesday's 4-1 Hampshire Senior Cup success over East Cowes Vics.

Sills, who fell out of frontline favour at Stoke following the summer arrival of Richard Newbery and Adie Mings, made the most of his stint at Staines where he rattled in eight goals in five appearances for the Ryman Division 1 side.

It did wonders for his confidence, as illustrated in his opening goal against Vics when he beat four defenders before hammering in a low strike from the edge of the box.

"Tim looked very fired up and took his goals well - particularly the first one," said Stoke's assistant manager Pete Peters.

"Obviously you've got to take the opposition into account. Playing a Hampshire League side is totally different to the Ryman Premier. East Cowes were spirited, but not very organised. All credit to them though, they tried very hard and never gave up."

One new face in the Basingstoke line-up is left-sided midfielder Dominic Naylor who has joined on a month's loan from Dagenham & Redbridge.

With Stuart Girdler facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines, Stoke needed a quick-fix replacement and the experienced Naylor - a veteran of over 200 Football League appearances for Barnet, Plymouth Argyle and Leyton Orient - fits the bill perfectly.

"He had a calf injury and, since Dagenham have no reserve team, they wanted to get him games. It's an arrangement that suits everyone," Peters explained.

lAldershot Town were transported into FA Cup wonderland when a 52nd-minute Gary Abbott goal put paid to Dover Athletic 1-0 in Tuesday's fourth qualifying round tie.

Shots have hit the jackpot of a home game against Micky Adams's Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday week (November 18).