Another double-figure romp for St Patrick's

Nov 14 2008 by Marc McLean, Lennox Herald (main ed)

MATHEW Bissett bagged a hat-trick in less than six minutes as St Pat’s demolished their Glasgow opponents.

The Dumbarton lads were already flying but the supersub took the score into double figures with his quickfire strikes – and then scored his fourth of the day late on.

The manager picked the same starting line-up as last week’s trip to Dundee and the players rewarded the vote of confidence with a fine performance, starting with Mark MacLeod slotting home in the first minute of play.

The Glasgow team, with some fine cup results behind them, gained the initiative for a while and Craig Robertson came close with a cross-cum-shot that Kevin Connor did well to push over the bar.

MacLeod soon eased the nerves by scoring two more goals by the 26th minute, the first involving D’annunzio and Ruane and the second following great work from Monaghan and a tidy cross into the area from Alan Galloway.

The visitors rallied again, with Scott Alexander causing a stir, but he was snuffed out of the game by James Graham as the Saints went on to add another three goals from MacKinnon, Monaghan and Martin Currie before the break.

At the interval Mathew Bissett was introduced for MacLeod and on 55 minutes, Saints’ goal tally reached seven.

Monaghan set up D’annunzio who immediately swept past a defender before lobbing the keeper as he rushed off his line.

Then a remarkable three goals in less than six minutes from Mathew Bissett. His first from a short pass from Ruane, the second came after D’annunzio squared the ball into his path, and his third followed a lung-busting run from his own half by MacKinnon that ended with a cut back for Bissett to net.

Sullivan had a blast that flew wide and King got in a couple of headers that came close but, entering the last 10 minutes, the crafty Alexander sent over a cross into the area and substitute John McCairns headed home.

However, St Pat’s had the last word with Mathew Bissett converting his fourth of the day with some style.

Saints have now scored 36 goals in their past three outings, which suggests that, after an indifferent start to the season, they’ve really found their feet!

Club draw lucky numbers: 2, 7, 12, 15.

St Pat’s: K Connor, A Galloway, J Deeley, B Deeley, J Graham, D MacKinnon, A Monaghan, D Ruane, M MacLeod, D D’annunzio, M Currie. Subs: M Bissett, M Sullivan, M King.