There was a Shaq attack at last for Peterborough Sports as hat-trick hero sealed a welcome win over Chester
Former Peterborough United striker Shaquile Coulthirst broke his scoring duck for Peterborough Sports in style with a hat-trick in an impressive 3-0 win over Chester in National League North at Pims Park on Saturday.
The start to the 31 year-old’s season was delayed by injury and he’s struggled for game time and therefore rhythm ever since.
But manager Phil Brown trusted Coulthirst as Sports sought to end a six-game run without a win and boy did it pay-off. Coulthirst took advantage of a goalkeeping error to hook home the opening goal in 17 minutes and two close range finishes in a nine-minute spell towards the end of the game clinched a deserved win and a personal matchball presentation.
The win moves Sports up a place to 21st, but that’s still a spot in the relegation zone. They have a two-point gap to bridge, but they have at least one game in hand on the five teams directly above them. Sports host FA Cup heroes, and National League North play-off contenders, Macclesfield Town at PIMS Park on Tuesday (January 27, 7.45pm kick off).
Conditions were tough today, but Sports handled them the better. They answered Brown’s call for fight and spirit and were well worth their win in the end against a team that had been in good form. Another ex-Posh forward Shaun Jeffers joined Sports on loan from divisional rivals Bedford Town before the game and made a strong impression after entering the fray in the 75th minute.
Chances were few and far between either side of Coulthirst’s opening strike. Sports men Sam McLintock and Connor Wood fired just wide of the target before the interval.
Mustapha Carayol went close immediately following the re-start but his drilled effort slid wide of the far post. Carayol again went close just before the hour mark as the city side continued to create the better of the few opportunities.
Elliott Whitehouse set up the second goal in the 72nd minute, as his cross from the right found Coulthirst who was left with a simple finish.
‘The Turbines’ completed the scoring on 80 minutes as another right wing cross caused havoc. The visiting goalkeeper made a decent save from substitute Jeffers, but Coulthirst was there to mop up and complete his hat-trick.
Sports: Crook, Oakley (sub Willis, 90 mins), Wood, Stewart (sub Joshua, 86 mins), Hickingbottom, McLintock, Whitehouse, Caroyal (sub Straughan-Brown, 81 mins), Coulthirst (sub Cadogan, 90 mins), Miller, Booth (sub Jeffers, 75 mins). Unused subs: Edwards, Davies.
Chester: Murray-Jones, Kelly-Evans (sub Mottley-Henry 46 mins), Leak, Arthur, Woodthorpe, Weeks (sub Bainbridge 62 mins), Shrimpton, Murray (sub Leigh 62 mins), Jones, Peers (sub F. Roberts 54 mins), Woods.