Sambu scores hat-trick in Cirencester’s Trophy win
CHELTENHAM Town scholar Adulai Sambu scored a hat-trick as Cirencester Town won 5-3 at Basingstoke Town in their FA Trophy first qualifying round game on Tuesday night.
The 18-year-old midfielder made his Robins first-team debut as a substitute in the 2-1 win at MK Dons in the Papa Johns Trophy before making the loan move to John Brough’s Centurions.
Levi Ireving put Cirencester in front on nine minutes, with skipper Jake Lee doubling the advantage three minutes later.
Basingstoke got a goal back on 17 minutes through Ezio Touray and then had Nathan Smart dismissed for a second yellow card before halftime.
Sambu scored the first of his treble on 50 minutes but Touray quickly cut the gap to 3-2.
Sambu struck again on 68 minutes when he had a free run at goal from the halfway line and made no mistake slotting it past the oncoming goalkeeper.
He then completed his hat-trick eight minutes from time when Cirencester were awarded a penalty and usual taker Lee stepped aside.
Touray also completed a treble of his own with a stoppage-time penalty but Cirencester go through to face Paulton Rovers at home on September 24.
Bishop’s Cleeve bowed out of the Trophy at the first time of asking, going down 3-2 to AFC Dunstable despite a late fightback.
Dunstable took a 3-0 lead thanks to goals from John Shamalo, Louie Collier, and Kieran Hamilton, and shortly after the third goal, Mitres defender Will Turner was sent off after picking up a second yellow card.
Despite this Bishop’s Cleeve rallied to score two goals in as many minutes, with substitute Blaine Waugh assisting both. One was finished by Kai Newman and the other a Alaskan Ann own goal, but in the end the deficit proved too much.