Hammond hits hat-trick as Melton Town net magnificent seven against Wellingborough Whitworth

Laithan Hammond hit a hat-trick as Melton Town kicked off their league campaign with a superb 7-3 home victory against Wellingborough Whitworth.

It had been five months since Melton last played a league game, and they were determined to start this United Counties League Division One campaign the way they started the previous one.

Within the first minute the visitors should have gone one ahead when a poor back pass found Biddle unmarked in the box, but he fired his shot high and wide.

A minute later and Melton opened the scoring when Lever danced through the Whitworth midfield and slotted a pass to Hammond, who turned and found the bottom far corner of the net.

A repeated came in the eighth minute when Lever was out wide and found Hammond with a low cross. Hammond turned Law and found the top corner this time.

A neat one-two between Hammond and Astill should have put the game out of doubt but Astill's shot was well saved by Bolland.

The visitors were then handed a bizarre goal when a calm back pass to Johnson spooned off his boot as he attempted to clear up field, only for the ball to spin backwards into an open net.

With 21 minutes gone the game was all square when a through ball to Biddle had Johnson racing off his line to close the angle, only for the striker to slip the ball under the keeper.

Halfway through the half Town had regained the lead when a Bucalossi corner was booted around the six yard area like a pinball until Munton toe-poked it into the net.

Brittain had a run down the wing and his low shot was tipped around the post by Johnson.

The resulting corner found Law unmarked at the back post with an open goal but his header missed the target.

Another Bucalossi corner on half time found Hammond whose bullet header was saved by Bolland.

His clearance up field was returned by Fray to Parsons, who turned and thundered in a low shot which was parried by Bolland, only for Munton to pounce on the loose ball and tap into an open net.

The second half was barely 10 minutes old when Munton dinked a ball to Hammond. He played in Parsons who slammed the ball into the net from eight yards out to make it 5-2.

A long ball out to Lever found him clear on goal but the winger pulled his shot wide.

It was then six when Astill won a 50-50 in the middle of the park.

Munton picked up the loose ball and split the defence with a pass to find Hammond, who made no mistake shooting under the diving keeper.

The visitors responded immediately when the linesman, to everyone's surprise flagged for pushing in Meltons area and Kobi Bivens slotted away the penalty.

Munton should have secured his hat-trick when a Lever diagonal cross was received by Hammond, whose first touch across the six yard box picked out the forward with an open goal. But he miscued his shot, which flew over the bar.

Substitute Harris made an immediate impact in the 74th minute when he went on a run to the byline and sent in a rasping shot which brought about a great save from Bolland, only for Lever to net the rebound.

This was a convincing win for Melton who have sent a message to the rest of the league that they have picked up where they left in March, and remain unbeaten in the league since last October.

Saturday's match with Burton Park has been postponed due to Wanderers having to isolate for 14 days after a player tested positive for Covid-19, so Town will have to wait until Tuesday, September 15 to return to action, when they host Birstall United at The Signright (KO 7.45pm).

TOWN: Johnson, Storey (Benjamin), Beaver, Bucalossi, Gilchrist, Fray, Lever, Astill , Hammond (Harris), Parsons, Munton (Dunn).