Hotshot Haskell fires hat-trick in Potters win (From Bournemouth Echo)

Hotshot Haskell fires hat-trick in Potters win

7:00am Friday 8th March 2013 in Non league football

MASTER marksman Mike ‘Haskeldinho’ Haskell boosted his chances of retaining the Verwood Town golden boot by plundering a hat-trick during a 4-0 win over Alton Town.

Haskell, whose goals spearheaded the Potters to promotion last season, has missed a fair chunk of Verwood’s debut campaign in Wessex Premier due to unavailability and disciplinary issues.

But the striker, recently back in action following a lengthy Sunday football ban, showed no signs of rustiness as he put the Brewers to the sword with a first-half masterclass at Potterne Park on Wednesday.

His 23-minute treble included a couple of headers and a ferocious 25-yard strike as Haskell took his tally for the season to eight, four behind leading goalscorer Jack Satterley.

Nathan Saxby, the architect of Haskell’s second and third goals, completed the scoring with a sublime fourth after the break as Verwood ran out comprehensive winners.

Adie Arnold’s men will be hoping to avenge a 1-0 defeat by Hamworthy United in October when they meet the Hammers at the County Ground tomorrow (3pm).

Hamworthy boss Simon Browne said: “We want the bragging rights for the Dorset area, but I am pleased Verwood are holding their own in the division.”

Hammers: (from) Knights, Head, Bradley, Horlock, Staines, Carlile, Penny, Sturgess, Pekun, Chudy, Shovelton, Bassiriki, Wyatt, Lanahan, Hester, Ayling, Murray.

Potters: Fawcett, Evans (Dear, 79), Hill, Kelly, Oldring, Dyer, Saxby, Webb, Haskell, Satterley (Burch, 65), Gajic (Hall, 68). Unused sub: O’Sullivan.

• New Milton Town are hoping in-form forward Tommy Donaldson can overcome a thigh problem to enhance their survival chances.

Donaldson is aiming to be fit in time for Linnets’ Wessex Premier showdown with relegation rivals Alton Town at Fawcett’s Field tomorrow.

Elsewhere in the Wessex League’s top flight, Christchurch entertain Lymington Town at Hurn Bridge. New signings Chris Dillon and Danny Steer could feature for Priory.

Bournemouth Poppies, who were last night due to face Newport (IOW) away from home, will host Horndean at Victoria Park.

Linnets: (from) Hookway, Proctor, De’ath, Thomson, Curtis, Embree, Sampays, Egerton, Barge, Roberts, Donaldson, Whitcher, Holloway, Booker, Blackburn.

Priory: (from) Frampton, Thompson, Legg, Lloyd, Magookin, Yelland, Crutchley, Smith, Burden, Osborne, Cook, Griffin, Cornick, Puckett, Dand, Steer, Dillon.

• Wessex One strugglers Ringwood Town visit Laverstock & Ford.