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Another Hunter hat-trick helps Town see off strugglers
Yaxley 2 Sleaford Town 4 FOR Sleaford Town it was a case of job done, as they comfortably completed the double over one of the league's strugglers within a matter of days.
Having hit six past Yaxley at Eslaforde Park, Town travelled for Saturday's away return in the United Counties League Premier Division in a confident frame of mind.
This time they hit four past the basement side but Sleaford didn't have it all their own way in the opening period when Yaxley gave as good as they got.
Although leading scorer Miles Hunter added another hat-trick to his list, it was Jamie McCormack working tirelessly in midfield who was Town's man of the match with a performance of total commitment.
Sleaford were given a boost by the return from injury of Lee Llewellyn to fill the problematic left back spot. But his return lasted only 14 minutes as once again he had to leave the field injured as Sleaford's left back jinx continues.
He was replaced by new signing Stewart Smith.
After Yaxley had threatened on two or three occasions, forcing Town keeper Andrew Scott into one good save, Hunter gave a hint of things to come when he headed narrowly wide from a pinpoint cross from Gary Walters.
Five minutes from half-time Hunter was brought down in the box and Town's ace marksman stepped up to take the spot kick himself, making no mistake to give Sleaford the lead.
A killer second goal just two minutes from half time must have been a real body blow for Yaxley. Wing man Matt Lunn, full of tricks as always, found space on the right and picked out Hunter in the box and the striker showed his predatory skills once again to give Sleaford a two-goal cushion at the break.
To their credit, Yaxley put the double setback at the end of the opening period behind them and, thanks to a Sleaford defence caught napping, they pulled one back shortly after the restart.
Town then thought they had added a third when Khameel Spence put the ball in the net after a slick move involving McCormack and Paul Ward but the 'goal' was disallowed.
But Sleaford didn't have long to wait for their third. Tom Ward won the ball and his cross into the box was confidently headed home by Hunter to chalk up another hat-trick.
Ten minutes from time, Lunn added a fourth with a trademark surging run, rounding two defenders before finishing with aplomb. The opportunity was created by good football from Martin Wormall, on for the injured Ryan Oliver, who showed exquisite control before laying off the ball to Lunn.
A misunderstanding in the Sleaford defence let Yaxley in for a late consolation but by then the points were in the bag for the visitors.
Town: Scott; Hodgkin; T Ward, Spence, Llewellyn; Lunn,P Ward, MacCormack, Walters; Hunter. Oliver. Subs: Wormall, Shaw, Smith
Manager's comment:
WITH a win on the road and the double over Yaxley, Town boss Brian Rowland was quite naturally pleased with the outcome of Saturday's game, although less so about the two goals his side gave away.
He said: "It was a good result for us. They pushed us hard in the first half but those two goals just before half time came at the perfect time for us.
"After that we were quite comfortable but I was disappointed with the two goals that Yaxley scored. We should have defended better than that."
He singled out Jamie McCormack as his man of the match.
Rowland said: "Although Miles Hunter, with another hat-trick, set up the win, McCormack was tireless in midfield and was involved in virtually everything we did. He was full of energy throughout the game.
"I thought Wormall too had a good game when he came on for Oliver."
On the down side for Rowland he has another two injuries to add to the growing list, with both Llewellyn and Oliver ruled out of last night's clash at Bourne. With four other players from Saturday's game against Yaxley - Smith, McCormack, Spence and Walters - also unavailable it presents the Town boss with a real selection headache.
* On Saturday, Town are at home to St Ives, kick off 3pm.
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Weather for Sleaford
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: -6 C to -2 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 1 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North west
