Clough does enough

Bolton Wanderers 4

BOLTON frontman Zach Clough’s superb hat-trick helped Wanderers to three points against a battling County Down outfit at the Coleraine Showgrounds on Monday afternoon.

Wanderers showed their intent from the first whistle. Tom Walker picked out Zach Clough two minutes into the game. Clough sent his six-yard header narrowly wide.

Saul Hamer got his first sight of goal after 13 minutes. Down stopper Marcel Salatka was equal to Hamer’s low drive.

County Down’s resistance lasted all of 18 minutes. Salatka misjudged Sam Bailie’s long throw and Robert Holding was left with the simple task of tapping home.

The local lads got back in the game on 26 minutes. Stuart Mallen won a free-kick 30 yards from goal. Enter Jamie Sharvin, who lit up the Showgrounds with an exquisite equaliser. His shot dipping over Bolton keeper Jan Sievers and into the top corner of the net.

Down almost took the lead two minutes after the restart. Padraig McGrath’s searching ball caught out Sievers. However Mallen’s effort was tame and was easily cleared off the line by Holding.

Wanderers started to dictate the pace and regained the lead six minutes later. The alert Clough made the most of a defensive mix-up, rounding keeper Salatka to score.

With five minutes to play, Bolton scored again. Clough nipped in ahead of the Down keeper to notch his second.

Clough then grabbed his hat-trick in stoppage time with an instinctive finish into the roof of the County Down net.

Team: Salatka, Shields, McGrath, McBride, Hunsdale, Knipe, Sharvin, McAleese, Mallen, McMenamin, Murray. Subs: Barnett, McClelland, Kane, Coffey, Bradley, Harwood, Devine.