Matty makes mark again with hat-trick
NORTH WEST COUNTIES DIVISION 1 BACUP BOROUGH ....... 4 CARLISLE CITY ........... 1 MATTHEW LAWSON HOURS after being named the NWCFL Division One Player of the Month for April, Matty Bryan scored his 25th, 26th and 27th goals of the season and collected an 18th Man Of The Match award in a resounding 4-1 victory over Carlisle City on Bank Holiday Monday.
Manager Brent Peters made one change to his starting eleven following Thursday night’s home victory at Home to Prestwich Heys as Bobby Carter replaced the injured Louis Holding.
Borough started the brighter of the two sides, twice coming close within the opening 10 minutes through Collinson and Carter.
It took half an hour for the deadlock to be broken, Josh Walne played a ball into Bobby Carter who squared for Bryan who slotted the ball past Ballantyne in the Carlisle goal, probably his easiest finish of the game.
On the stroke of half time, Bryan turned provider after an exquisite touch, following a lofted ball from young Kyle Brooks, gave him an extra yard in the penalty area as he returned the favour to Carter who smashed home from close range to double Bacup’s lead going into the break.
Borough started the second half in the same vein of form as the first, going close to a third through Walne and Collinson.
The fifty minute mark saw Carlisle grab a goal, a long hopeful Ballantyne goal kick was flicked on by Armstrong into the path of Bradbury who held off the Bacup defender before striking the ball right footed past Karl Price.
Following the Carlisle goal it was all Bacup Borough and it was just a matter of time before Borough got a deserved third goal, Bryan hit a Sweet left footed Volley but again, Ballantyne was some hoe equal to it,
This was becoming a personal battle between forward and a keeper, who was in inspired form considering he had already conceded twice in the first half.
On the hour mark, Bacup were twice denied, first by the woodwork, Collinson with an audacious flick towards goal rebounded off the far post and Bryan again came close with a shot on the turn which the keeper some how managed to save.
Fresh legs entered the fold through the introduction of Jordan Wilmore and his first touch was impressive as he lofted a ball into the path of Bryan who held off his defender before turning and striking across goal to beat a routed Ballantyne to make it 3-1 with 25 minutes to play.
As the game entered the last 20 minutes, the move and the goal of the game came from the in-form and on fire Bryan.
A wicked curved through ball from Carter was collected by Bryan who firstly took it past Ballantyne before checking back inside. He the took it past the keeper, jinked back on to his right before turning back onto his left – leaving Ballantyne stranded on the floor – and Bryan finished past the back tracking centre half on the line to grab his hat-trick and cap off what was a truly impressive performance.
Bacup could have added a fifth and sixth if it wasn’t for keeper Michael Ballantyne.
What a way to end their penultimate League fixture, a truly convincing Borough performance in which all three points were deserved.
Borough are in action for a final time, this Saturday in a 3pm kick off at the Brian Boys Westview Stadium against Abbey Hulton as they look to make it four wins in a row.