Daniel Johnson found the back of the net three times while Jordan Austin put the game to bed with a fourth to see Hanwood take a 4-0 win for their fifth win of the season.

The hat-trick to Johnson brings his tally for the season seven goals so far this season from the four games he has played, one of which was deputising in goal.

Taking on a South Wagga side who had only picked up one win so far this season, Hanwood coach Brian Bertolin was surprised by the test the side faced.

"It was a pretty tough game, if I'm honest," he said.

"They set up well and gave us a good battle, and we really had to fight hard for the victory.

"We weren't at our best today. I think that was more to do with the opposition threw a few questions at us, and we had to work it out, so full credit to South Wagga."

Outside of the clash with local rivals Leeton, Bertolin felt this was the toughest game his side has faced this season.

"They were really good, and they really stuck it to us, and we probably had to work it out a little bit harder than we have in the last couple of weeks," he said.

"It is good to come over here and have a good hard tussle like that."

The win for Hanwood sees them remain the only undefeated team in the Pascoe Cup, and with Lake Albert dropping points with a 2-2 draw with Leeton United, the chasing pack is starting to thin out.

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Bertolin was pleased to see the combinations starting to come together and the younger players starting to settle into their roles.

"When we shortened it up, and we were connecting with short passes, we were good," he said.

"At times, they sort of forced us into doing long balls, which sort of played into their hands a little bit.

"But when we connected with the short passing and went wide through Chaise Donetto and Daniel Rogato we looked threatening. Danny was good up top as well, I suppose, putting a lot of pressure on them.

"Some of the younger boys like Chaise Donetto and Chris Zappala are starting to work out the grind of week in week out first grade."

Along with the goal scorers in Johnson and Austin, Bertolin was full of praise for defender James Stockwell.

Hanwood will continue their month-long road trip with a clash with Wagga United next weekend and will go in with a full-strength squad with no injuries coming out of the clash with South Wagga.

Hanwood 4 (D Johnson 4, J Austin) def South Wagga 0

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