Magpies bounce back from midweek disappointment to thrash St Margaretsbury

SSML Premier Division

St Margaretsbury 2 Colney Heath 5

IAN Cooper scored a hat-trick, and in the process chalked up 100 goals for the club, as Colney Heath recovered from their midweek capitulation to Kings Langley with a comfortable win at St Margaretsbury.

Just like in midweek the Magpies started well and got the early goal they were looking for when Jamie Eames crossed to the far post where Cooper was lurking. The striker was fouled as he attacked the ball and the ref pointed to the spot. Cooper picked himself up and buried the ball into the bottom corner.

Heath doubled their lead on 14 minutes when good work by Aaron Clarke produced a cross which reached Eames who won a tackle against the right-back and slammed the ball in to the net.

It was proving almost one-way traffic and with just over half an hour played Cooper took the ball round the ‘keeper with what looked like handball, but the ref gave him the benefit of the doubt and Cooper rolled the ball into the empty net to increase Colney Heath’s lead to three.

Clarke also went close on 40 minutes after a quick break by Heath brought the former London Colney forward into the area but he shot wide.

St Margaretsbury got themselves back into contention when Ricky Light scored right on half time and that spurred the hosts on to start the second half well resulting in Leigh Rose’s reducing the deficit further in the 53rd minute.

The pitch, which was bad enough at the start, was now getting wetter and wetter as the rain came down. It was hard to pass but both teams kept trying and overcame the conditions really well.

Steve Barker then went close with a header which just dropped over the bar and Cooper shot over from a Ross Gilbert through ball.

On 75 minutes, Eames and Dean Parratt worked a short corner that allowed Eames to create some space to shoot from the edge of the area. The midfielder’s shot took a deflection and snuck in at the near post to make the score 4-2 in the Magpies’ favour.

St Margaretsbury’s ‘keeper made a good save at the near post from Cooper as he was looking for his hat-trick.

The striker wasn’t to be denied though and in the 91st minute he bought up his century of goals in the black and white of Heath when he took advantage of good work in the area by Clarke and poked home.

Heath: Blackman, Gilbert, Corran, Barker, Perks, Humbert, Williams, Eames, Margarrison, Clarke, Cooper. Subs: Taylor, Dickie, Parratt.