Parker hat-trick secures Abbey Hey 6-1 win over St Martins
A Jake Parker hat-trick ensured Abbey Hey moved up to third in the NWCFL First Division South after demolishing bottom of the league St Martins.
The first chance of the half fell after only two minutes through Ben Halfacre, hitting a quick shot across the face of goal, forcing St Martins keeper Troy Taylor to make a brilliant diving save.
Abbey Hey did break the deadlock three minutes later when Dylan Norris had an opportunity to cross the ball in on the right hand side following a cleared corner, finding Parker at the near post, who smashed the ball with power on his right foot to give Abbey the lead.
Jordan Lazenbury ended his long goal drought by netting his 24th of the season eight minutes before the end of the half, stretching out his right foot from a Callum Graham ball on the right hand side, to stroke the ball into the net.
The floodgates opened soon after, with Parker scoring his second of the game just four minutes after the Abbey second, chipping the ball from close range over the goalkeeper following a pass from Lazenbury.
Halfacre also joined in on the fun to make it 4-0 moments before half time. Debutant Graham playing in another cross, this time to the far post, leaving the striker to tap the ball in across goal with his left foot.
The goals continued at the start of the second half, when Parker received a quickly taken kick from young goalkeeper Joe Lawton, beating the offside trap and the keeper before calmly slotting away a no-look shot from four yards out to claim the match ball and make it 5-0.
On Steven Yarnwood’s return to the Abbey, he was able to get an assist, playing through Halfacre on the hour mark to slot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
The hosts did pull back a consolation goal from close-range with ten minutes to go, but they couldn’t pull back into the game as Abbey secured an all-important three points.
Abbey Hey will next turn their attention to Saturday, where they will be travelling to fellow strugglers Alsager Town in the league (3pm kick off).
Abbey Hey: Lawton (GK), Graham (M.Nolan 72’), Grimshaw, Hamzat, Norris (C), Parker, Dunford, Murray (Yarwood 49’), Lazenbury, Halfacre (Grant 63’), Fenton
Unused Sub: Fitzgerald
