Billy Clarke netted a hat-trick as the Blues thrashed Bury Town 6-1 in an entertaining encounter at Ram Meadow. Also on the scoresheet were Danny Haynes, Owen Garvan and Kurt Robinson, while Scott Chaplin registered for the home side.

The Blues were in front after just one minute and 15 seconds. Gavin Williams, making his first appearance of pre-season, played in Clarke and the young Irishman slipped the ball past Dean Greygoose in the Bury goal.

Danny Haynes almost headed a second within a minute, but directed the ball over the bar. Garvan shot wide as Town dominated the opening spell.

Haynes added to Town's lead in the 17th minute after Jaime Peters had cut the ball back from the right to the edge of the box, the England U19 international striker hitting a left-foot shot into the corner of the net.

Six minutes later it was four. Keeper Dean Greygoose failed to deal with an aerial challenge from Town's captain for the night and former Bury player Ian Miller at a corner and dropped the ball. Billy Clarke was on hand to stab over the line.

Bury's best chances came from freekicks around the edge of the box, one after Shane Supple had inadvertently handled outside his area, but the Town keeper saved the first and the second flew wide.

The opening period's scoring was completed in the 43rd minute when Owen Garvan curled the ball left-footed into the top corner from the edge of the box after exchanging passes with Jaime Peters on the right.

At half-time the Canadian made way for first-year academy scholar Reggie Lambe, Town's first ever Bermudian.

Three minutes after the break, Bury pulled a goal back. The ball was crossed from the right and Scott Chaplin rifled the ball past Supple from just inside the area.

Tommy Smith and Supple's miscommunication almost caused a second Bury goal, but Matt Richards got back to prevent the ball from crossing the line.

On 64 trialist Arsène Menessou, on as a sub, made a powerful run forward, riding a number of tackles before finding Clarke with an inch-perfect pass. The Irishman calmly stroked the ball home to claim his hat-trick.

Two minutes later, Danny Haynes made a good run but lost control, the ball falling for Kurt Robinson, whose shot looped off a defender, over Greygoose and into the net.

The closing stages saw more substitutions, recent Irish academy recruits Ronan Murray, a striker, and David Cawley, a midfield playmaker, making their first appearances for a senior Town side.

Billy Clarke was the star for the Blues, appearing to be back to full confidence and taking his goals in an assured manner, while making clever runs throughout. Danny Haynes took his goal well and showed his remarkable pace, but all too often got bogged down by taking one touch too many.

Michael Synnott again looked promising at right-back, combining well with Jaime Peters, while Gavin Williams showed some classy touches in his 55 minutes on the field but looked unsurprisingly short on match fitness.

Owen Garvan passed intelligently throughout and scored the pick of the game's goals, while George O'Callaghan was less than comfortable in an unfamiliar left-wing role.

Youngster Reggie Lambe showed off a few tricks, pace and made one fine tracking back tackle, but looks a little raw at present. French trialist Arsène Menessou did little other than create Clarke's third goal, while Kurt Robinson did well on the left, as he did in the friendly at Stevenage.

Bryan Klug was in charge of the Blues with Steve Foley and Gerard Nash alongside him, while we understand boss Jim Magilton has spent the last few days in Ireland.

Town: Supple, Synnott, Richards, Garvan (Cawley 77), Miller (Menessou 55), Smith, Peters (Lambe 46), Williams (Robinson 55), Haynes (Rhodes 77), Clarke (Murray 77), O'Callaghan (Upson 77). Unused: Plummer. Att: 1,926.

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