17^TH Februsry 2007

TUCKER TREBLE HAT TRICK CREATES A NEW CLUB RECORD

Annan Athletic 14 Abbey Vale 1

Annan Athletic cruised through this South of Scotland League match , it was a tough task for the New Abbey  side from the start when they faced a full strength Annan Athletic team who had their East match cancelled in the morning. The real talking point of the match however surrounded the nine goals scored by Simon Tucker  to create a new club record for the most goals scored by an Annan player in a match.

Tucker opened the scoring in the 6^th minute latching on to a Russel McGuffie through ball then in the ninth minute the Annan striker made the most of some indecision by Ewan Brolls in the Abbey Vale goal score number two. Grant Parker made it 3-0 in the 20^th minute with a clinical shot from the edge of the box. Chris Jardine and Lewis Sloan combined in the 25^th minute to cut open the Abbey Vale defence in the 25^th minute and Jardines well struck shot brought out a good save by Ewan Brolls but the ball fell perfectly for Tucker who tucked the ball into the corner of the net for his hat trick. On the half hour mark Tucker grabbed his fourth and Annans fifth goal when Grant Parkers cross was headed by Lewis Sloan but once again the loose ball fell to Tucker who arrived in timely fashion to Tucker who lashed the ball into the net from eight yards. Abbey Vale then pulled a goal back in the 32^nd minute when Ian Afrin rifled in a superb 15 yard strike past Gavin Armstrong in the Annan goal. Lewis Sloan came close with a Thunderbolt in the 40^th minute with his shot scraping the top of the cross bar. Tucker then increased Annans lead to 6-1 in the 41^st minute and at the same time bring his personal tally to five.

There was not letting up in the second half , in the 51^st minute Tucker grabbed his second hat trick and half time substitutes Neil Johnstone and Mike Jack added further goals in the 60^th and 66^th minutes. Neil Johnstone scored number 10 in the 70^th minute. Tuckers run from the half way line in the 77^th minute ended with another goal and in the 83^rd minute Lewis Sloan made it 12-1 when Mike Jack set the ball up with a perfect dummy. Two late goals in the 87 and 89^th minutes from Simon Tucker completed his third hat trick and another club milestone.

Annan Athletic . G Armstrong, Stuart Hill, Russel McGuffie, M Bell, S Ruddisck, C Allen, S Sloan, C Jardine, S Tucker, G Parker, L Sloan. Subs – M Jack, N Johnstone, G Ferguson, J Nichol, G Wood.

Abbey Vale – E Brolls, M Little, M McBride, T Covelany, F Brolls, M R Davis, S Gordon, I Afrin, S Cameron, K Stenton, M Allen. Substitutes – M Liall, R Boxar, P Edwards, C Park, J Grillan.

Referee – R  Buchan