08 August 2011

Hat trick by Martin delights City boss

Source: Western Morning News: LINK

Marcus with Southern League Championship Cup
Truro City midfield ace Marcus Martin scored a superb hat-trick as the Cornish club overpowered Hednesford Town 5-2 in their final pre-season warm-up at Treyew Road.

Lee Hodges' promoted City side kick off their first season in the Blue Square Bet South at Chelmsford City next Saturday. Hodges expressed his delight with their performance, as powerhouse forward Barry Hayles and versatile Scott Walker top-and-tailed Martin's treble.

He said: "I have said all along pre-season is about preparing for our first fixture in the league at Chelmsford.
"We have played some tough League opposition – like Plymouth Argyle and Torquay United – but on Saturday we were up against a Hednesford side who finished second behind us in the Southern League Premier Division last season. They gave us an idea of the sort of side we will be facing week in, week out in the Conference South."

Hednesford arrived in Cornwall having missed out on promotion – to Salisbury City – in the end-of-season Southern League play-offs, but as League Cup winners.
Former Fulham and Argyle centre forward Hayles got the ball rolling with a second-minute goal before teeing up midfielder Martin's first.

Hodges said: "Marcus's hat-trick had it all. He still had a bit of work to do after Barry set him up and found the corner with a really good shot.
"His second goal was a poacher's goal following a corner. He hooked it in on the line, while his third was an unbelievable long-range strike which he took down on his chest and volleyed home from something like 30 yards-plus."

City led 3-0 at half-time. Hednesford's Darren Campion made it 3-1 just after the break, before Martin's super strike and Hayles won a late penalty which was converted by Walker. There was still time for Mark Danks to score a late second goal for Town, but that could not take the gloss off a terrific Truro performance.

Hodges said: "I was delighted with the lads because Hednesford are a strong side and will be there or thereabouts in the promotion race in their division this season coming, but we looked fit and ready and showed that by getting five goals.

"It's not all about goals and it's not all about results in pre-season, but I must admit it is nice going into the first game of the new season on the back of a performance like that with so many pluses.
"I was really pleased with Tim Sandercombe in goal, but it was an all-round good performance from the boys."

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