CHERRIES prospect Harry Cornick netted a clinical 26-minute hat-trick to help Christchurch emerge victorious following a pulsating first league meeting with neighbours Verwood last night.

Cornick’s exploits contributed to an absorbing Dorset derby with Priory running out 7-4 winners over the Potters as spectators were treated to a Hurn Bridge goal fest.

Scorecards rather than programmes were the order of the day as offense triumphed over defence in the second 11-goal thriller in Wessex Premier this season.

Verwood were rocked ahead of kick-off when livewire midfielder Nathan Saxby was injured during the warm-up, although his replacement Brad Hill certainly caught the eye during the first half.

Hill bagged two stunning strikes – his first from 30 yards – to restore parity in the 34th and 44th minutes as the teams reached the interval on level terms at 3-3.

Jack Satterley’s deflected effort in the 16th minute opened the floodgates before Cornick followed up to net the loose ball after Potters goalkeeper Ed Tierney had saved well from Russell Cook.

Cook posted his entry for goal of the game when he turned sharply and fired low into the bottom corner from 20 yards to make it 2-1 to Priory in the 33rd minute.

And after Hill’s sublime effort had made it 2-2 barely 60 seconds later, Cornick took centre stage when he left a posse of defenders trailing in his wake before finishing with aplomb to restore Priory’s lead.

Hill’s second again left Priory goalkeeper Max Frampton clutching little more than Dorset air on the stroke of half-time, with players and spectators alike drawing breath during the interval.

Tierney was culpable as Cornick was gifted his third goal five minutes after the restart before Mike Haskell’s glaring miss proved costly as Ben Osborne seized on more slapdash defending to make it 5-3.

Although Sam Griffin’s finely-taken double could have seen Verwood hoist the white flag, Russell Dyer struck 11 minutes from time to complete the scoring.

There was still time for Osborne to put his 84th-minute penalty into orbit with Verwood probably taking little consolation from the fact they played their part in what was an excellent advert for Wessex Premier.

Priory: Frampton, Thompson, Steer, Crutchley, Legg, Burden, Smith (Cullen, 76), Griffin, Osborne, Cook (Puckett, 72), Cornick. Unused subs: Magookin, Dand, Collins (g/k).

Potters: Tierney, Evans, Kelly (Lovell, 76), Oldring, Thoroughgood, Dyer, Hill, Webb, Haskell, Satterley, Gajic. Unused subs: Dear, Saxby, Kimber, O’Sullivan.

  • Hamworthy United, who beat Fawley 7-4 in September, will be hoping for a similar outcome when they face the Oilers at the Waterside Sports and Social Club tonight (7.45pm kick-off).
  • Ian Oliver’s seventh-minute opener counted for nothing as Bashley were condemned to a 3-1 home defeat by Southern Premier play-off chasers Chesham. The Generals hit back to win thanks to goals from Simon Thomas, Inih Effiong and Chris Watters.