Bowman delighted after bagging a first hat-trick

Exeter ‘could have won by ten’ after notching six goals for the first time since 1993

RYAN Bowman grabbed with his first career hat-trick in Exeter City’s 6-1 win over Colchester United - with the easiest three goals he’ll ever score.

From a combined seven yards out, Bowman scored three of the six goals in the thrashing over the U’s, first turning in crosses from Jack Sparkes and Joel Randall, before a bit of luck for the third when Sparkes’ effort was pushed onto the bar and hit him on the line and went in.

The 28-year-old said that the 6-1 win - the first time the Grecioans have scored six since a 6-4 win over Fulham in November 1993 - was exactly what the Grecians deserved for their performance and that he could and should have scored more.

Bowman missed a golden chance in the first half when he turned a

Matt Jay cross wide of the posts and had a header from a corner cleared off the line. And after a slow start to the season, last year’s top scorer is up to five for the campaign after four goals in his last three games.

“I’ll never score an easier three goals,” he said. “They were all put on the plate for me and the last I didn’t know much about it, but I should have got one on the first half as MJ put it on a plate for me and I should have scored,

“We could and should have had more. The first half I should have definitely scored and we should have done better so I was disappointed with myself, but the manager said main thing to get the three points, and then I got three goals myself.

“It was a great team performance and on a personal level, my first career hat-trick, so we put it right after Saturday’s disappointing result (City lost 2-1 at home to Oldham

Athletic) and every person was fantastic tonight.

“The main thing was the good performance and the three points and if it was 10-1, they couldn’t have argued with that. We could have some in first half, myself included, and more in the second half, and we are talking about a 6-1 and it doesn’t flatter us, so was a great performance.”

The striker admitted that he probably should have scored more than the five goals he has netted so far this campaign, but that Matt Taylor had faith in him that the goals would come. However, his leading of the line has helped the likes of Jay and Randall score eight and six goals each, with the Grecians the joint top scorers in League Two, along with Cambridge United.

“I probably should have scored more,” Bowman said. “But the manager has said ‘we are all with you’ and there is more to the game and my game than just scoring the goals and MJ and Joel have got the goals off the back of the link-up play.

“I knew the goals would come but was just a case of when, but there are so many other parts of the game to link up and bring the others into play.”

The 6-1 win sees City move back to fourth in the table, but up next for them is a trip to League One Gillingham in the FA Cup, with a spot in the third round on offer for the winners.

And Bowman said that off the back of Tuesday’s win, they will be going there full of confidence that they can reach Round 3 for only the third time in 15 years.

“Off the back of the 6-1, we will go with full confidence and to get a result,” he said. “Gillingham is another test, a different test for us against a League One side, but that’s where we want to be, and to be the best, have to beat the best.”