Rochester United went goal crazy as they put nine past Lordswood in Tuesday night’s derby encounter.

Jack Nelson scored six goals as the Spartans maintained their 100% start to their Southern Counties East Division 1 season in some style, making it seven wins from seven, as they thrashed their Medway rivals 9-0.

United’s boss Michael Betts feared their FA Vase heroics at the weekend would hinder them for their visit to Lordswood – but he needn’t have worried. His side scored all nine goals in a 40-minute blitz either side of the break.

The hammering of Lordswood came off the back of a 2-1 win against SCEFL Premier Division side Holmesdale on the Saturday, a victory which had seen them produce a backs-to-the-wall finish to clinch the second qualifying round victory.

Betts’ side have won all 10 of their games so far this season, in all competitions, and host bottom side Chessington & Hook United this Saturday.

“We scored nine and it could have been more,” stated the Rochester boss after their derby rout.

“I was quite surprised because the boys were quite tired as well after the Saturday. They had to put a shift in against Holmesdale because they're a decent outfit, big, strong and quick.

“We matched them for long periods, but Holmesdale put us under the cosh. Our boys were quite tired [for Tuesday’s game], but you wouldn't have known it after about 25 minutes. We came into our own and were like a different side.”

There wasn’t much in the midweek derby until Nelson broke the deadlock on 27 minutes, opening the floodgates. He’d completed an eight-minute hat-trick before adding a fourth. Hicham Akhazzan made it 5-0 in first-half stoppage-time.

The goals continued to fly in after the interval with Nelson netting twice more either side of Mack Reilly’s effort. Daniel Lott made it 9-0 with 25 minutes left to play.

“They just fell apart,” said the Rochester boss. “I brought Jack off after he scored six, but he could have had ten!

“They're a young side and we're playing really well at the minute.

“We've said it for the last few weeks, after a few of the games, we should have come away with better scorelines than we have. We did say it's only a matter of time really before someone took a bit of a hammering. It all just seemed to click on the night.”

Betts was happy with nine goals and with a busy schedule ahead introduced some of his younger players off the bench to give the likes of Nelson a break.

Four of Nelson’s goals came from Mack Reilly assists, with the pair swapping roles so far this season.

“The only downside to it is now everyone wants a piece of Jack!” said the manager.

“He’s on 11 now already, but we were saying that he could have had 24. He's just not taken all of his chances, but obviously on Tuesday night he did. Even then, he had two other one-on-ones he should have scored.

“Last year, Jack set up a lot of Mack’s goals, where [on Tuesday] night, Mack set up four of Jack’s.”

Nelson is well on the way to beating his tally of 14 goals from last season.

It’s been a stunning start to the campaign for Rochester, who prior to beating Holmesdale in the FA Vase, they’d eased past another SCEFL Premier Division in the Kent Senior Trophy, beating Hollands & Blair 2-0.

They have won all seven league games - one of just a handful of senior sides in the country to retain a 100% record.

Premier League Liverpool have won all five of their games. Bishops Cleeve and Frome Town in Southern League South have each won four from four but both have had cup defeats.

“It's been unreal,” said the manager. “We knew we’d be half decent this season. When you look at last season, for the last two years when Matt (Hume) was in charge, we've always had a strong squad.

“We were just missing a few pieces of the jigsaw. I think bringing Jack Bray in as centre-back and Luke Adams in the midfield, added a bit more experienced. I think it's just made us a lot more stronger all over the pitch.

“We just seem to be getting better and better with every game we're playing.

“We said to the boys after the game that although the scoreline was 9-0, there were still things that, against perhaps a bit more ruthless side, could have affected us.

“I'm interested in the three points and the performance more than the goals. The goals are nice, aren't they? But the performance is more.

“As long as we keep improving week in, week out, that's our aim. I think if we can keep on improving and keep working hard like we are, training twice a week, and they're putting proper good shifts in on the Saturday and these Tuesday games, I think if we do that, we'll be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.

“I'd like to think we might get a good run in the cups as well.”