Magic Metcalfe helps fire Town in to second

SCOTT Metcalfe scored a 19 minute hat-trick as Warrington Town thumped 10-man Droylsden 5-1.

Metcalfe was at his blistering best as he tormented right back Shaquille Clarke throughout the first half to help Town on their way to a ninth win in 10 games.

His first, from the penalty spot on nine minutes, came after last man Shaquille Clarke-Adam was shown a straight red for hauling down Chris Gahgan in the box.

He added two more before the half hour mark, including an opportunist effort to complete his hat-trick that left Droylsden goalkeeper Craig Ellison red-faced.

After scoring six on Saturday, the Cantilever Park faithful were once again treated to a goalfest as Town’s recent hot run continued.

There was nearly a goal inside the first five minutes, as former Droylsden striker Ciaran Kilheeney was denied by Ellison and then a goal-line clearance.

Struggling Droylsden faced no more than three of their former players, with Ben Deegan partnering Kilheeney up front and Ally Brown at the back.

The complexion of the game changed completely inside 10 minutes when Clarke-Adam saw red and Town opened the scoring as a result.

Initially, that blow didn’t deter the visitors. Captain Steve Hall fizzed a drive wide, and Brandon Zibaka had the ball in the back of the net, only to be denied by an offside flag.

But Town were finding more and more space, and after a corner was only partially cleared, Metcalfe played a nice one-two with Nathan Burke before stroking the ball past the goalkeeper for 2-0.

Metcalfe was playing full of confidence and he skinned the right back moments later and whipped in a fine delivery for Deegan, who laid off for Kilheeney, only to be denied by a desperate defensive block.

The left-winger snatched the match ball on 28 minutes, as he refused to give up on a long ball over the top, flicked it over a hesitant goalkeeper and then neatly finished from a tight angle.

Droylsden were shellshocked, and it got worse four minutes later when Kilheeney stood up his man and then buried it past Ellison for 4-0 at half time.

The visitors had nothing to lose after the break and they continued to try and play football.

They were given some faint hope when Zibaka’s free-kick was deflected past Wills, but it turned to be a mere consolation.

Having weathered the early storm at the start of the second half, Warrington went on to create several more chances.

They all came to nothing until the 82nd minute, when substitute Chris Lester teed up Burke who hammered home from inside the box.

The win lifts Town in to second place in the Evo-Stik League Division One North table, ahead of Saturday’s trip to Kendal Town.

See video of Nathan Burke’s goal by CLICKING HERE