McClure treble books Berks & Bucks cup final spot

Feb 22 2012 By Greg Burns

Wycombe Wanderers 4-0 Hungerford Town

MATT McClure fired a hat-trick and hit the post twice as he fired a timely reminder of his ability to Wanderers boss Gary Waddock.

The 20-year-old was the key to unlocking a stubborn Hungerford Town side in their Berks and Bucks semi-final clash at Adams Park on Tuesday night.

The Evo-Stik Division One South & West promotion chasers proved stubborn opposition in a goalless first-half.

But McClure needed just 38 seconds to fire in the opener with a rasping low left-foot drive into the bottom corner before doubling the lead three minutes later after latching on to a superb pass by substitute Bobby Webbe.

The striker, who spent nearly five months out with a nasty broken ankle, went on to hit both posts before excellent work by strike-partner Olly Taylor, who netted the third, teed him up for the hat-trick and fourth goal for Wanderers in an eye-catching display.

Watched by manager Gary Waddock, McClure will have certainly given his boss food for thought ahead of a crunch game with Hartlepool on Saturday.

A strong side took to the field for the county cup game with a number of other players also staking their claim for a starting spot.

Marvin McCoy, who donned the captain's armband in the second-half after Dave Winfield was taken off, was solid at right-back while Anthony McNamee proved a danger throughout.

Against a side five steps below Wanderers, that is probably not a surprise.

But it is McNamee's final delivery and end product that has disappointed this season and he put in a string of dangerous crosses in the first-half which caused panic in the Hungerford box.

And it is always encouraging to see the young players continue to show good development with Josh Scowen and Jess Kewley-Graham working well in the heart of midfield, Taylor proving a real presence up front and Charles Dunne proving he is a real threat to Grant Basey's left-back spot.

WANDERERS: Ingram, McCoy, Stewart, Winfield (Webbe 46), Dunne, Grant, Kewley-Graham, Scowen, McNamee (Morias 63), Taylor, McClure (Ehui 70).

Subs (not used): Horlock, Ighorae.

Att: 160.