Ray's efforts made it six goals for the season and five in his last two matches for the Woodpeckers, as they gained a deserved win against their previously unbeaten opponents, Connor Field scoring the other in an impressive team display.
Jordan Buttle's shot missed the target in the first minute for the visitors. Mark Ray's effort from an acute angle beat away keeper Thomas Coombe after 3 minutes. Jordan Lake's free kick was deflected over after 9 minutes. Ray doubled the home sides lead after 15 minutes with a close-range header. Buttle's strike from 20 yards was parried for a corner by home keeper Alfie Stronge but after 29 minutes Connor Field made it 3-0 with an excellent turn and shot. Ray's flick was on target after 39 minutes.
Şam Watt's header went wide after 55 minutes and a minute later Callum Sinclair was denied a fourth by Coombe. Michael Campbell's header made it 3-1 to the visitors after 57 minutes and on the hour Jamie North's goalbound shot was brilliantly cleared off the line by Cameron Panich. Lee Mason's needless foul on Ray inside the area after 69 minutes, gave the Ref no choice but to award a penalty and Ray made no mistake making it 4-1 to complete his hatrick. Ryan Keeble came on as a substitute to make his 300th appearance and in the 87th minute Robbie Sweeney's shot went over the bar for Dereham.
Stronge,, Rea (Capt), Bac, Wiggins, Panich, Allen, Sinclair, Bolt, Ray, Field, Crowe, Subs: Keeble for Sinclair 74 mins, Barber for Panich 80 mins, Ivatt for Ray 83 mins, Jarrett for Crowe 87 mins.
Coombe, Skipper (capt), Pitcher, Gee, Watts, Eastaugh, Clarke, Lake, Campbell, North, Buttle, Subs: Gascoigne, Campbell, Sweeney, Mason, Cawcutt, Dugdale.
Referee: Adrian Copsey, Assistants: Joe Fisher-Stevenson, David Fairhurst.
Att: 138