Hammond hat-trick ‘Ern’s Scarva a point

A VIRTUOSO Ernie Hammond hat-trick should have bagged three points for Scarva Rangers Reserves on Saturday.

But complacency afflicted the hosts in this Mid-Ulster Reserve Division Three encounter at Scarva Park and they were forced to settle for a share of the spoils.

An under-strength Scarva side took an early lead when Noel Hamilton’s dangerous corner was lashed home from close range by Hammond.

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The visitors were quickly back on level terms, when an attempted Scarva clearance struck the head of a Silverwood Reserves player and veered into the net.

Ryan Dodds was the architect of Scarva’s second goal of the game, bolting down the left wing and delivering a pinpoint cross that Hammond fired clinically home.

Hammond’s third goal was sublime. Collecting a neat pass from Phillip Magill, he nimbly drifted past the keeper before coolly slotting home.

It was a perfectly platform on which to build a comprehensive victory but the hosts were guilty of taking their foot off the accelerator and they paid a painful price.

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They squandered a series of chances and were punished when the visitors scored from a free kick.

Despite being reduced to ten men Silverwood fashioned out an equaliser and almost grabbed a late winner with a well struck free kick that slammed against the Rangers’ crossbar.

Best for Scarva Rangers Reserves was hat-trick hero Ernie Hammond.