The 19-year-old struck his first after 29 minutes, the second on 62 minutes and sealed his treble in the final minute of the match. Wood has now been on target in each of the past three games, scoring five goals.
Also in Championship action Winston Reid played the full 90 minutes of a 4-3 thriller at Upton Park as West Ham secured their first home victory of the season over Portsmouth.
Ryan Nelsen, still struggling with a knee injury, played no part in Blackburn Rovers’ 1-1 draw with Fulham. It was Rovers first point of the season but they remain at the bottom of the English Premier League.
Out-of-contract Rory Fallon has been linked with Scottish Premier League side Aberdeen, with boss Craig Brown reportedly interested in capturing the Kiwi striker.
Like Wood, young striker Greg Draper also continued his recent form by getting his name on the score sheet again for the New Saints as they scored a 3-0 win over Neath in the Welsh Premier League.
In Australia, A-League pre-season action saw Shane Smeltz notching a brace of goals in 11 minutes in Perth Glory’s 2-0 win over local side Stirling Lions. In South Australia, Glen Moss kept a clean sheet for Gold Coast United in a nil-all draw with Adelaide United and was awarded man of the match for his efforts.
Michael McGlinchey was in action twice during the week for the Central Coast Mariners, scoring in a 3-0 win over Bankstown Lions and playing a major part in their 1-0 victory over Illawarra side Dandaloo FC.
On the eve of September 11 remembrance in the USA, Simon Elliot was in action for Chivas USA as they went down 3-0 at home against DC United, fellow All White Andy Boyens was an unused substitute. First year professionals Jake Gleeson and Michael Boxall both featured in match day squads for the Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps respectively but did not get onto the pitch.
Still in the USA, Football Fern Ali Riley capped a successful season by being selected as one of 2011’s Best 11 players in the Women’s Pro Soccer League alongside global stars of the women’s game such as Abby Wambach of the USA and Brazil’s Marta.
New Zealand’s contingent in Germany was also in action in the DFB Women’s Cup second round. Amber Hearn’s USV Jena continued their run with a 3-2 win in extra time, while Katie Hoyle and Sarah Gregorius triumphed 1-0 for Bad Neuenahr over Bayer Leverkusen. Hannah Bromley and Herforder also advanced with a 4-1 win, as did Fern captain Rebecca Smith’s Vfl Wolfsburg.
Back in England, Hayley Moorwood’s season ended earlier in the month with Chelsea bundled out of the Continental Cup with a 4-0 defeat to Everton.
To view footage of Chris Wood’s hat-trick for Birmingham City click here
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football.
For more on New Zealand football go to www.nzfootball.co.nz