HITMAN McCANN ENDS HIS 'WINTER BREAK' WITH A HAT-TRICK

Felling Magpies 2 Rothbury 4

Northern Football Alliance Division One

Big number nine Gareth McCann netted a hat-trick as an unfamiliar-looking Rothbury side climbed into the top half of the table.

The former Felton ace rolled in his first in the fifteenth minute, hammered in number two five minutes after the break and completed his treble with ten minutes to go.

While the performance wasn’t as free-flowing as the team is capable of producing, Reds boss Dan Herron was happy to get the three points on the board and delighted with the finishing of his strikers – especially McCann, who has been subjected to some jokey dressing room banter about being on a self-imposed ‘Winter break.’

The Coquetdale outfit were short on numbers and manager Herron had to pull on his boots for a first run-out in 18 months, while also calling up the services of some squad players.

“I was massively pleased with the win,” he said afterwards.

“The most pleasing thing was how short of a squad we had and still managed to get the win. We were so short I had to play 90 minutes. We drafted a couple of fringe players in too (Hammy and Tuna) who I’m so pleased turned out to help us. We had so many working or otherwise committed, so managed to get a win with a makeshift team.”

Hard-working man-of-the-match Joel Laviers released Chrissy Coe for the opener in the 10^th minute, the striker cutting in from the right to unleash a high drive into the roof of the net.

“We were a little rusty to start but created enough chances to be fair,” said Herron.

 “It was a very, very scrappy game though. We bumped big Joel into midfield and he was immense, until his legs died after about 60mins - all that Christmas turkey!” 

“Chrissy Coe was also immense - his work rate was, as ever, tremendous and he gave Hammy (Thomas Hammond) plenty of much needed cover. Gar was clinical with his chances but also had a few more to add to his hat trick, in the end the 3 was enough!”

Laviers rose to power a header forward five minutes later and McCann was on it in a flash, coolly rounding the keeper and sliding his shot home.

The Mags pulled one back in the 32^nd minute as Michael Mains reacted quickest to a bouncing ball in midfield and hit a curling 20-yarder that the diving Paul Appleby got a hand to, but couldn’t keep out.

Laviers combined with Greg Woodburn down the left as Rothbury added their third just after the interval, the tricky Woodburn whipping over a centre that McCann gleefully smashed home from close range.

Mark Burns drilled a snapshot in from 25 yards to keep Felling in the game in the 75^th minute but the points were secured when hot-shot McCann took full advantage of a mix-up at the back to cut inside his marker and finish smarty into the bottom corner to stake a claim on the match-ball.

"It was tough coming in from the festive period still burning off that Christmas turkey  - I haven’t played in a while aswell, so it was good to get back out there," admitted Laviers. 
"This will happen more this season as Rothbury and football will be a priority for me and I will do my best to push Rothbury to silverware this season."
"I felt we all needed to step up, and although I got man of the match it was a team performance - it wasn’t just me who pulled their weight, it was the whole 11. Gaz is a great player to play with, he makes it easy with those direct runs he makes and I’m so happy he got the rewards yesterday."
Laviers also made a big rallying call ahead of a busy month that sees Rothbury visit Wallsend Boys Club next weekend and a Combination Cup semi final at Bedlington the week after.
"We've got some big games coming up and we’re all excited," he said.

One of the squad was out due to injury and could take up the notepad when his playing career has ended if his notes are anything to go by...class from the big lad from Wagtail!