Harrold hits an instant hat-trick

RIDGEONS PREMIER DIVISION

Harwich & Parkeston 0

Mildenhall Town 4

Striker Liam Harrold was an instant hit on his debut for top-of-the-table Mildenhall Town, scoring three times in the demolition of Harwich & Parkeston.

The leaders were held 1-1 at home by the same opponents earlier this season, but made no mistake second time around.

"I don't think we got into top gear," said Mildenhall chairman Martin Tuck afterwards, "but still won convincingly."

Harrold missed a couple of chances before opening his account with a shot on the turn, and he scored his second from the penalty spot after Matty Clements had been brought down in the box.

He then completed his hat-trick at the start of the second half by nodding in a cross from Neil Inman, and with less than an hour gone captain Andy Eady got the final touch in a goalmouth scramble to make it 4-0.

"We controlled the rest of the game after that," concluded Tuck.

- Mildenhall entertain second-placed Needham Market on Saturday, and the chairman believes that the outcome may be crucial.

"If we win that one it will put even more daylight between us and them, but Wroxham are the team to look out for. They've got four games in hand and we've still got to play them twice."

- As mentioned at the foot of last week's report, Mildenhall travel to Teesside on February 10 to face Billingham Synthonia in the Fifth Round of the FA Vase. Ever wondered how that team got its name?

They are actually named after an agricultural fertiliser, 'synthonia' being a contraction of 'Synthetic Ammonia'. The product was manufactured by ICI, with whom the club previously had a close connection.

Did you also know that they are the only club in the Northern League to go an entire season (1950/51) without conceding a goal at home?

Goalkeeper Harry Armstrong's last minute penalty save in the final game helped them to preserve that amazing record.