Dom Ballard nets hat-trick to fire Leyton Orient to victory at AFC Wimbledon

Dom Ballard scored a hat-trick to take his League One goal tally to 21 and help Leyton Orient ease their relegation fears with a 4-2 win against AFC Wimbledon at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.

An Ollie O’Neill strike hit a post in the 15th minute, but Ballard was there to tap the rebound into an empty net and give his side the lead.

Omar Bugiel went through on goal after producing a magnificent touch to control Joe Lewis’ floated long ball, but visiting goalkeeper Will Dennis got down quickly to maintain his side’s advantage.

Junior Nkeng had been a threat all evening and he got his reward in the 39th minute when he latched onto the end of a Bugiel knock-down before chipping the ball over Dennis to score the first senior goal of his career.

The 18-year-old’s impressive night got even better in the first minute of first-half stoppage time as he showed blistering pace to reach Steve Seddon’s cross before blasting a header into the back of the net.

However, the game turned on its head during a thrilling second half.

Ballard got his side back on level terms in the 48th minute, placing the ball into the right corner of Joe McDonnell’s net after a sublime pass from Charlie Wellens.

The O’s regained the lead in the 57th minute when James Morris tapped in Demetri Mitchell’s cross from close range.

Ballard completed his hat-trick with a powerful finish from inside the penalty area in the 70th minute.