Matty’s hat-trick delight

COUNTY achieved a stunning victory against the National League North’s long-time leaders, as a 17-minute hat-trick by substitute Matty Warburton blitzed Chorley for a first-ever win over the ‘Magpies’ at Edgeley Park.

Warburton started the game on the bench on the back of a disappointing result against Nuneaton days earlier.

But after a goalless first half he was brought on for Darren Stephenson immediately before the resumption, and sounded a declaration of intent within two minutes of his introduction, by way of a shot from the edge of the box that curled inches wide of the left upright.

The Magpies were the first to find the net when, with 71 minutes played, newly-arrived substitute Josh Wilson headed in a cross from the right.

Wilson was flagged offside however and, within a minute, the Hatters were ahead, as Warburton scrambled home a cross by Bell.

Six minutes later, Warburton’s tally and the lead doubled – aided by another assist from Bell, whose through-ball on the left was powered past Urwin with an impeccable Matt finish.

Mulhern, having replaced Bell, went close with a shot that was deflected behind off Meppen-Walter, and Palmer headed a Duxbury cross wide of the right post, before Warburton earned his hat-trick a minute from time – exchanging passes with Connor Dimaio, and rifling in from the left.

And, with that, Warburton secured the match-ball – although the strength of the overall team performance was emphasised in added time, when the hitherto-largelyuntested Ben Hinchliffe did brilliantly to parry a late effort from Wilson around the right post.