Chi forged lots of opportunities against Pagham mid-week but didn’t really have their shooting boots on, but they did here, and Lloyd Rowlatt’s neat finish put Chichester ahead in only the second minute.

The visitors won a couple of early corners; Ethan Prichard shot high and wide; and a decent effort forced the hosts’ keeper into a smart stop.

Hutchings opened his account on 11 minutes before Prichard and Silvano Obeng were flagged offside in attacks at either end.

Olly Munt, who put in a real shift, and Kyle O’Brien, injured Rob Hutchings’ replacement at left back, hooked up as Chi probed once again. O’Brien’s pin-point cross found the head of Prichard and the No11 who scored 18 goals in all comps last season found the back of the net with some aplomb.

And it was 4-0 on 19 minutes when Munt rifled home after good work from Rowlatt and Isaac Bello.

Obeng got the wrong side of Jack Farrier a few minutes later and pulled one back for the Badgers.

The home side had a penalty appeal dismissed by the ref on 25 and super strength from the imperious Conrad Honore ensured he won the ball back.

A lovely touch set up Munt for another chance but his finish didn’t match the initial control.

Chi custodian Kieran Magee slipped just before the half hour mark as Obeng outmuscled Farrier and slotted the ball in from an acute angle to make it 4-2.

And then Rowlatt, who shouldn’t have been allowed to get his shot away, put Chi 5-2 up.

Hutchings converted from the penalty spot after Prichard caused mayhem in the box and was unfairly brought down.

Joe Clarke, scorer of Chi’s equaliser against Pagham, came on for Rowlatt at the break and a minute after the restart Hutchings bagged his hat-trick following nice play from Munt.

A delicious flick from Hutchings nearly came off on 53 and next, skill and tenacity from Prichard posed further problems for the Hampshire team.

Adam Biss replaced Munt on the hour and Clarke beat the offside trap and teed up Hutchings, but the striker hit the post this time.

Prichard made it 8-2 in the 63^rd minute before Honore, who played consistently with his head up, presented Hutchings with another opportunity.

A Badgers defender who’d been taunted by Prichard’s trickery all afternoon, wiped the Chichester player out on 67 and got a yellow card for his trouble.

Chi earned a catalogue of corners and free-kicks and both Prichard and Hutchings spurned chances.

Jamie Horncastle came on for Honore with 15 to go and Chichester broke from a rare Brockenhurst corner thanks to the pace of Bello and Prichard as the hosts were run ragged.

Hutchings’ fourth and his side’s ninth came after a gorgeous chip over the top by Prichard.

And then in time added on and with practically the last kick of the match Obeng caught the Chi keeper out with an audacious long-ranger for a consolation hat-trick.

Next up for Chichester are Baffins Milton Rovers away on Tuesday evening 25th July (Kick Off 7:45pm) before Chi face Bognor at their place on Saturday 29^th July (Kick Off 2pm).

Chichester – Magee, Bello, O’Brien, Moore, Farrier, Pashley, Munt, Honore, Hutchings Rowlatt, Prichard. Subs – (Clarke, Biss, Horncastle, Trialist)