RUSSELL Cook’s hat-trick maintained Christchurch’s 100 per cent league record after five games, sealing a deserved 3-0 derby win over Bournemouth Poppies .
A fiercely competitive clash changed three minutes before half-time when Cook nodded home Harry Cornick’s cross from a half-cleared corner and Priory went on to dominate the second half.
Mark Smith’s free-kick skimmed the crossbar after the break, but the veteran quickly turned provider, sliding Cook in down the right to finish across the advancing Kenny Vaughan.
Cook completed his treble with a well timed run, floating a clever effort across Vaughan which nestled inside the far post midway through the second half.
Delighted Priory boss Graham Kemp told the Daily Echo: “I thought we played really well. Apart from an odd five minutes here and there, we dictated the tempo and had them on the back foot for most of the game.”
Meanwhile, Poppies assistant boss Stuart Underwood was full of praise for Kemp’s charges.
He said: “Christchurch have been together for three or four years now and it shows.
“Kempy brought in Russell Cook for Ben Osborne and he scored three. It was a brave decision that paid off.”
Priory: Collins, Thompson, Legg, Crutchley, Lloyd (Burt, 82), Yelland, Smith, Griffin (Cullen, 79), Cook (Osborne, 72), Burden, Cornick. Unused subs: Kittle, Hicks.
Poppies: Vaughan, Wilson, Lockyer, Llewelyn (Saadi, 72), Clarke, Corby, Maguire (Purdy, 31), Phillipson-Masters, Joyce, Warren (Swann, 82), Jackson. Unused subs: Coverley, Frampton.
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