Parker Hat-Trick Sinks Unlucky Milton

Highmoor Ibis came away with all three points in an entertaining encounter with Milton United thanks to a Mitch Parker hat-trick.
This was a high tempo, in your face game, bruising encounter played in the right spirit.

Highmoor took the lead in the 21st minute after great work from Sanchez Commock down the left crossing low for Parker to control and finish smartly into the bottom corner.
Milton should of equalised in the 29th minute following a corner with the Highmoor keeper and defence somehow managing to first save Milton's skipper Jon Stott's header then the rebound as it bobbled around the 6 yard box.
Milton equaliser came in first half injury time, following a foul on Cameron Mcneill, Ollie Thomas delivered the prefect ball for Niall Hodgkins to clanced past Tebby in the Highmoor goal.

Highmoor full of pace and tricky continued to attack with Milton's high tempo passing game also causing Highmoor problems, but it was Highmoor who regained the lead when in the 59th minute Parker again fired low into the bottom corner.
Milton instantly responded Ollie Thomas played the ball out to Danny Langford who played in Matt Biddle who crossed to the far post where Ashley Searle headed home to draw level within a minute of going behind.
Both teams continued to attack looking for the winner and Mitch Parker got it completing his hat trick when his strike cannoned off the post before flying across the goal line and striking the other post before crossing the line with 12 minutes remaining.
Milton continued to attack Daniel Piscopo fired inches wide and in injury time a free kick from Thomas was meet by Mcneill but his header from close range was straight at Tebby.

Manager Paul Bedwell couldn't of been prouder of his side who "Showed really character" and gave one of the "best performances he has seen from his side". He commented "I really enjoyed the game, We showed really character its one of thoses games I would of loved to have played in it was high tempo, both sides played some good football and it was a physical game but played in the right way, they get a lot of stick (Highmoor) but we have never had a problem with them, both sides gave as good as they got, but I cant remember one bad tackle in the game. We got spanked by them last year twice but it shows how far we have come to come back twice and where very unlucky not to a third time, we deserved a point, its problem one of the best performances I have had from one of my sides, we have gone toe to toe with one of the best sides in this division and almost pulled off a result, it was a very pleasing performance."

Team: Griffiths, Bernasconi (Taylor 67), Mcneill, Biddle (Cox-Rodgers 75), Davis, Stott, Austin, Thomas, Hodgkins, Langford, Searle (Piscopo 82)
Not Used: Naish, Forster