Jayden’s stock is rising after hat-trick

JAYDEN STOCKLEY’S clinical hat-trick inspired Exeter City to an action-packed victory at Oldham Athletic.

Stockley has now scored 14 league goals this season and is in demand ahead of the January transfer window, but Exeter boss Matt Taylor insisted the comeback victory was down to a determined team effort

He said: “It was a tough watch at times, but it was a really good game in terms of the attacking football on show.

“You have to question the defensive side because you expect to be more comfortable when you score three away from home, but I’m so pleased to have come out on top.

“We have come from behind twice, which shows a lot of character, and in the last half-hour we were the better team.

“Maybe we got a bit of luck with an Oldham penalty appeal, but we always had an attacking threat.

“Jayden scored his hat-trick, but it was about a strong team performance and we are still building along the way.

The defeat was Oldham’s first in seven matches. Manager Frankie Bunn said: “We started really well and could have been two up if we had taken our chances.

“We let them back into it by switching off at a set play and then it became end to end like a game of basketball.

“We weren’t as tight as I would like, especially in midfield. Exeter scored during a purple patch and after that they grew in confidence.

“They are a good side who haven’t been out of the top seven since August, but our defending was a big disappointment.”

Oldham went in front after 12 minutes as right-back Tom Hamer crossed to the far post and Sam Surridge headed home acrobatically from close range.

Exeter levelled after 38 minutes when Stockley opened his account by producing a deft near-post header to convert Nicky Law’s corner.

Oldham struck again just after the restart, with Callum Lang cutting on to his right foot and drilling into the far corner from 12 yards, but Stockley’s second came in the 64th minute as he lashed in a superb first-time shot from Lee Holmes’ pass.

The hat-trick was soon complete when an unmarked Stockley stooped eight yards out to net a simple header from another Holmes assist.