Hat-trick highlights in senior play

Meadowbank United’s Mitchell Greaney and West End’s Hamish Marsh scored hat tricks in their respective matches in a high-scoring weekend of senior football.

Oamaru-based Meadowbank United defeated Pleasant Point 4-0 at home, while Marsh scored all of West End’s goals in their 3-0 win against a depleted Timaru City. In the round’s other match, Thistle and Timaru Boys’ High drew 1-1 at Anzac Square.

Meadowbank and Pleasant Point were locked at 0-0 until the 75th minute.

‘‘Pleasant Point defended bloody well for most of the match, but once their goalkeeper got injured in the 75th minute, and they had to rearrange their backs as a result, it became difficult for them,’’ Meadowbank coach Phil Collings said.

Meadowbank’s Paul Holmes, playing deep right, scored in the 76th minute in a bit of a scramble, while Greaney, at left half, scored in the 77th, 85th and 88th minutes to seal the match.

The victory moves Meadowbank into third place on the table.

West End coach Wayne Dyche was pleased with the side’s composure.

Marsh, playing left half, scored in the opening minutes, but the match was shapeless for the next hour.

However, the referee awarded West End a penalty kick in the 60th minute after a late challenge on Tyler Cox near the box, which Marsh duly netted. He completed the hat-trick just before fulltime; pouncing on a breakdown in Timaru City’s defensive communication to slot the ball past the keeper.

Timaru City coach Shane Johns said he was pleased with the side’s effort, despite the result.

‘‘We’re struggling with injuries, but I take my hat off to West End, they were wellorganised upfront,’’ he said.

Johns said 16-year-old defender Ben Nast-Kolb was the stand-out for Timaru City.

Meanwhile, Thistle coach Craig Hinton was relieved after his side’s escape act against TBHS.

The home side equalised just minutes before fulltime, thanks to a late header from defender Daniel Hickey.

TBHS striker Truth Toheriri scored in the 10th minute.

However, coach Gavin Ivamy said the team did not take their opportunities.

‘‘If you don’t finish Thistle off, they will come back at you, and that’s what happened,’’ he said.