Gregg hat-trick helps Wakehurst return to winning ways

Wakehurst defender Gareth Dickey closes down his Tbermore United opponent during Saturday's Championship Two game at Fortwilliam Park. INMM4613-368SR

Wakehurst found themselves heading to the changing rooms at half-time with a three goal lead, thanks to the finishing touches of Conor Gregg (2) and Lee McCaughern and it should have been four, the usually accurate Gregg failing from the penalty spot on 37 minutes with the score at 2-0.

Gregg’s first came after 24 minutes as he broke away on the right and from a difficult angle, managed to squeeze the ball into the net off the legs of keeper Wells.

After Tobermore had hit the crossbar, Gregg quickly doubled his side’s advantage as he found himself completely unmarked 25 yards out and as Wells sprinted off his line, the striker coolly lobbed the ball into the net.

Three minutes from the break an accurate crossfield ball from Ryan Gregg was finished off clinically at the far post by Lee McCaughern.

Tobermore made a double substitution 5 minutes into the second period, and almost immediately one of those replacements, Sean Henaghan reduced the lead, turning McClements cross past Maybin from 12 yards and the same player brought the score back to 3-2 after 66 minutes.

An injury to Ryan Young on 75 minutes brought Andy Laughlin off the bench and 5 minutes later he sent Ryan Gregg free on the left and his run into the visitors box was crucial as his stinging shot was only parried by Wells and Conor Gregg stuck the rebound high into the net to complete his hat-trick and give his team breathing space. “Conor was outstanding - it was the sort of performance that had teams from higher divisions interested in him last season,” said Wakehurst boss Ian Gregg.

“At the other end, Gareth Dickey had a terrific game at the back - he just gets on with things quietly.

“Our own form has been up and down but that can be said of results through Championship Two both last weekend and since the start of the season, with teams capable of taking points off each other.

“The challenge will be to put a run of results together to try to climb the table,” added Gregg, who hopes to have defensive duo Paul Muir and Chris Rodgers back from injury for Saturday’s ‘home’ game against Queen’s University.

Wakehurst: M Maybin, R Young, D Stevenson, G Dickey, D Gage, L McCaughern, G Young, M Crawford, R Gregg, C Gregg, J Paul. Subs: M Cairns, J Lemon, D Kirkwood, R Culbertson, A Laughlin.