Hartin bags hat-trick as Stratford Town Youth ease past Malvern

A HARRY Hartin hat-trick propelled Stratford Town Youth to a 5-1 victory over Malvern Town in the MFYL League Cup at a chilly HD Anywhere Community Stadium on Monday evening, writes Bryan Hale.

Josh Aspinall-Smyth and Bradley West were also on the scoresheet as Nick Ballinger’s men put in a terrific performance to clinch a home tie against Newcastle Town in the quarter-finals.

In spite of the game having to be switched to Malvern after two weather-related postponements at the MoodChimp Stadium and also not having played since 6th December, Town were in control once Hartin had cut in from the right to fire them ahead in only the sixth minute.

Town continued to boss the possession, and doubled their lead halfway through the first half when Aspinall-Smyth headed in from a corner.

The hard-working George Dawson then had a couple of decent efforts well saved by the Malvern keeper before Hartin nicked the ball off a defender and ran on to steer it past the keeper to give Town a 3-0 half-time lead.

Tom Rowe shot inches over from close range soon after the restart followed by West being denied by the keeper when clean through.

And any chance of a Malvern comeback was snuffed out shortly after the hour mark when Hartin completed his treble with a fine dribble and clinical finish.

West then made it 5-0 on 76 minutes after Dawson had set up the opening as Town stayed on top right to the end.

Malvern did pull one back with five minutes to go and would have had a second but for a fingertip save from Archie Donaldson, but Town had long since made sure of their place in the next round.