Pablo Nets Hat-Trick in Romp
Tuesday, 6th Jul 2010 21:40

Pablo Couñago netted a 10-minute hat-trick as the Blues opened their pre-season programme with a 9-1 victory at Newmarket Town. Owen Garvan scored twice and Grant Leadbitter, Lee Martin, Colin Healy and Alan Quinn once each.

The Blues started with a three-man attack with Jon Walters on the right, Tamás Priskin in the centre and Lee Martin on the left. Grant Leadbitter was the deepest of the three midfielders with Owen Garvan and David Norris ahead of him. At the back, Shane O’Connor was on the left, Jaime Peters on the right and Damien Delaney and Gareth McAuley in the centre.

Connor Wickham was left out of the squad, rested after his England U17 exploits earlier in the summer, while Tommy Smith is not due back for another week after his time away with New Zealand at the World Cup.

Jon Walters came close to putting Town in front in the fourth minute when Leadbitter sent the Blues skipper through on goal, but Newmarket keeper Rob Mackney made a fine save at his feet. Lee Martin went wide from the edge of the area three minutes later.

The Blues went ahead in the 10th minute when great work from Tamás Priskin played Martin in on goal and the former Manchester United man slipped the ball into the net.

Four minutes later, Jaime Peters sent in a low cross from the right and Owen Garvan flicked the ball across Mackney to make it two.

Martin shot wide, then Grant Leadbitter made it three with a low shot through a crowd of players which the home keeper should have saved. The former Sunderland man went close again in the 17th minute, looping the ball over the bar.

Just before the half hour, Martin played Garvan in on goal and the Irishman rounded Mackney before tapping the ball into the net with his right foot. Just before the break Walters sent the ball over the bar.

Town changed all but Lee Martin at half-time, keeping the same system with Martin, Couñago and Stead the striking three.

The Blues were somewhat caught cold after the break with central defenders Alex Bruce and Troy Brown hesitant as Jon Olive beat a surprised Arran Lee-Barrett from the edge of the box.

On the hour, Quinn headed an Edwards cross wide when he probably should have scored. Moments later, Luciano Civelli came on for his first match in 16 months, taking over from Martin on the left.

Town went 5-1 up in the 67th minute when Pablo Couñago lashed in the goal of the night from 25 yards, the ball striking the underside of the bar before crossing the line.

Stead fired over, before Civelli created Couñago his second of the night with some trickery on the edge of the area. Two minutes later, Couñago completed his hat-trick when he rebounded a 76th minute Civelli shot.

Colin Healy made it eight in the 80th minute when he turned the keeper and tapped home off a defender from a foot or so out.

Moments later, Alan Quinn waltzed through the Newmarket defence, exchanging a one-two with Jon Stead, before making it nine. Couñago almost made it 10 late on but struck the post.

The result reflected Town’s domination against the Ridgeons League side and it was difficult to learn too much from the game, aside from the switch back to 4-3-3 and who Roy Keane sees as his potential right-backs. Oddly, eight of the goals came from players amongst the eight players recently made available for transfer.

Luciano Civelli didn’t appear particularly nervous during his time on the field after his lengthy absence, making some telling touches and even a few tackles.

Former Town midfielder Geraint Williams, linked with the assistant manager’s role, was at the game, sitting alongside academy recruitment officer Malcolm Moore, while chief scout Steve McCall and reserves coach Chris Kiwomya were also present.

Town: Murphy (Lee-Barrett 46), Peters (Edwards 46), O’Connor (Ainsley 46), Leadbitter (Hyam 46), McAuley (Bruce 46), Delaney (Brown 46), Walters (Stead 46), Garvan (Quinn 46), Priskin (Couñago 46), Norris (Healy 46), Martin (Civelli 60).

Photo: James Ager

Photo: Action Images

Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.

Page:
1
2
3

Skip73 added 21:46 - Jul 6 Blimey Pablo scores a hattrick and Martin also gets on the score sheet. Whatever next?
0

Lightningboy added 21:50 - Jul 6 3 for Pablo,2 for Garvan and Keane wants shut of them?!...ok,it's against very weak opposition but jeeeeeeeeezus..stop being such a numpty Roy.
0

kiwiblue added 21:51 - Jul 6 good shop window display as well as giving the ''rejected'' players a chance to show what they are capable of.good stuff from luciano welcome back. stunned priskin and stead did not score? how were they involved?
0

FifeITFC added 21:53 - Jul 6 How about Priskin scoring next? ;-)
0

runaround added 21:54 - Jul 6 Result makes little difference as preseason is all about football but to score 9 against any opposition is a boost. Just a pity Priskin didn't score as its always good for strikers to be scoring a few in preseason. Good that Luca got back on the pitch again after so long out
0

tractorintheloft added 21:59 - Jul 6 433 very interesting start to pre season. Garvin would flurish in a 3 man centre midfield but it very reliant on the front 3 helping out. Lets see how PSV cope with our new attack minded fluidity. lol.
0

Yallop added 22:02 - Jul 6 9-1 and people will still find negatives. How predictable
0

GlenPennyfather added 22:08 - Jul 6 Where was Conor tonight?
0

SiBo added 22:09 - Jul 6

I think it bodes well... you can only beat what's in front of you and I've seen big teams struggle against small teams before. The biggest positive for me is the players who are reputedly available putting in a stint and trying... Martin trying hard and playing well for instance is good news. OK tonight was more about fitness/shape than anything else, but still to score 9 is good. let's hope it's a springboard for better things...

WREXHAM_BLUE added 22:20 - Jul 6 That will do; regardless of the opposition. Although every goal scorer bar Leadbitter is "available," let's hope that at least some of them stay and fight for places in the season ahead. C'mon the lads!
0

Mark added 22:28 - Jul 6 A good result. Interesting that all the goals were scored by transfer listed players.
0

kirbs added 22:29 - Jul 6 was a good game, even againts bad opposition priskin just looks lost, ive been told from internal sources at the club which is quite dissapointing but apparently wickham didn't play because tottenham have already brought him for £8 million. I heard that after the Engalnd U17s touney redknapp said to klug get wickham at any cost, interesting.
0

maximoalex added 22:38 - Jul 6 Kirbs, do you work for The Mirror? I hear they pay well.
0

kirbs added 22:49 - Jul 6 nope, just watch this space...
0

Mungo added 22:50 - Jul 6

Sounds like a promising performance, albeit against a much lower level of opposition. Almost inevitable that almost everyone that RK transfer listed scored! Who knows, perhaps they might be staying yet? Lets hope this is the first of many good results this season...

The absence of Wickham is a concern. If he has been sold, it should at least mean RK will have funds available to reinforce the squad. Lets hope he uses the proceeds wisely...

Yallop added 22:53 - Jul 6 He's been given a longer break like Tommy Smith due to internationals over the summer. No big conspiriosy
0

jeera added 22:54 - Jul 6 No Yallop Looking at most of the comments i think you'll see people are generally chuffed. As usual you see what you want to see and make it up as you go along.. How predictable
0

kirbs added 22:54 - Jul 6 I hope he aint been sold either as he is probably one of the best players to come through are youth ranks in a while, thats wat i heard anyway hope it aint true!
0

Yallop added 23:02 - Jul 6 Thanks for your input Jeera. Stick me on ignore if I bother you that much.
0

generalpublic added 23:02 - Jul 6 thats his goals for the season used up then
0

svendust added 23:04 - Jul 6 Keep your conspiracies to yourself kirbs. Wickham has been given an extra couple of weeks as yalop has said. Pleased with the result, says a lot about the attitude of some players.
0