Matthew Etherington hit a hat-trick to send West Ham up to third in Division One on his return to action.

The Hammers winger returned from suspension to treble his goal tally for the season and knock another nail in bottom side Wimbledon's coffin at Upton Park.

Further goals from Bobby Zamora and former Don Nigel Reo-Coker added insult to injury for Wimbledon and extended the home side's unbeaten league run to eight matches.

The Dons, who were forced to sell four players to the Hammers by their administrators, now look doomed to relegation.

It was two former Dons who carved out the first chance, Reo-Coker feeding David Connolly, whose low cross from the right narrowly evaded the full stretch of Zamora.

And Jermaine Darlington had already deflected Connolly's close-range effort over the crossbar when West Ham suddenly exploded with two goals in two minutes.

Marlon Harewood's low centre evaded Connolly and fell instead for Etherington to tap home at the far post in the 37th minute.

Zamora then quickly doubled the lead, cutting inside his marker to blast home an unstoppable left-foot rocket from 16 yards, his third goal in six games.

Wimbledon looked shell-shocked, and Banks had to be quick off his line to smother at Etherington's feet.

The Dons went into the match a massive 20 points adrift of safety, and they looked dead and buried by half-time.

They almost committed suicide shortly after the break when Mark Williams hesitated and was robbed by Harewood, but Banks parried Zamora's save.

Etherington made it three in the 49th minute, outpacing Darlington to fire home low to the far post, and Connolly was only denied by Rob Gier's goalline clearance moments later.

It was becoming embarrassingly easy by the time Reo-Coker put the result beyond doubt with an acute near-post finish in the 62nd minute after more good work from Etherington.

And the former Tottenham winger grabbed the matchball with neat chip on 70 minutes, condemning Wimbledon to an eighth straight defeat in the process.

Hammers keeper Stephen Bywater saved excellently from makeshift striker Nico Herzig before the end, but the meagre 190 travelling fans must already have been contemplating life in Division Two by then.

Teams

West Ham Bywater, Repka, Dailly, Melville, Harley (Ferdinand 66), Harewood, Reo-Coker, Carrick (Nowland 66), Etherington, Zamora (McAnuff 56), Connolly.

Subs Not Used: Srnicek, Deane.

Goals: Etherington 37, Zamora 39, Etherington 49, Reo-Coker 62, Etherington 70.

Wimbledon Banks, Barton (Jarrett 55), Hawkins, Williams, Gray (Gordon 47), Chorley, Herzig, Gier, Darlington, Kamara, Harding.

Subs Not Used: Worgan, Puncheon, Oyedele.

Att: 29,818

Ref: E Evans (Manchester).