Yet another Wallace hat-trick inspires Newbury as young goal-machine fires side into next round of cup
Teenage striker Jacob Wallace struck another hat-trick as Newbury made it seven home wins from seven, coming from two goals down to beat Marcham 4-2 in the last 16 of the Berks and Bucks Cup.
Newbury were in serious danger of heading out when a loose back-pass allowed Marcham in to double their lead five minutes into the second half. However, four goals in 21 minutes, which included yet another hat-trick for free-scoring Wallace, secured Newbury their spot in the quarter-finals, where they have been drawn at home to East Berkshire Football League outfit South Reading, with the tie scheduled for December 16.
Ben Wickens’ side made a slow start to the game, dominating possession but lacking a genuine cutting edge, and were punished when a strike from range fired the visitors ahead after 10 minutes. However Marcham’s second goal in the 50th minute and some changes from the bench seemed to spark the home side into life, and Newbury had one back when Thatcham Town loanee Jacob Wallace headed in from close range on the hour.
The hosts were level five minutes later when marauding full-back Tom Beal found the target, and Newbury were ahead with 15 minutes of time remaining when the talismanic Wallace bagged his second of the afternoon. With Marcham forced to come out in search of an equaliser, Wallace was given the time and space to complete his hat-trick when the visiting goalkeeper was unable to hold his low shot in the 81st minute as Newbury came from two goals down to win for the second game in succession.
And head coach Ben Wickens was full of praise for Wallace, who has taken his tally to 16 goals in eight games this term, and the rest of his squad, while also stressing the need to start games faster.
“There’s huge amounts of ability in the squad and the lads know that, we just need to be more ruthless and go at teams from the off instead of being triggered by going a goal behind,” he said.
“Jacob has now got 16 goals from eight games. We got him involved so he can continue scoring goals and learn the men’s game, and he’s doing just that.”
Newbury, who are level on points with Thames Valley Premier League Division 1 leaders Reading YMCA Rapids but have a game in hand on their rivals, travel to Henley Town in the Berkshire Trophy Centre Senior Cup on Saturday.