Matty Tymon nets hat-trick in Five Star Anchors performance

Stockton Town returned to winning ways in dominant fashion with a 5-0 win over Lincoln United.

A hat-trick of headers from Matty Tymon alongside goals from Lewis King and Kevin Hayes gave Stockton a well earned victory. 

Michael Dunwell made one change from last weeks lineup, bringing in Stephen Thompson, who returned from his suspension today, for Nathan Mulligan. 

It was Lincoln who had the first big chance of the game after three minutes, a cross from the left found Jake Park in space but the striker couldn’t quite find the contact to guide it in.

Stockton came into the game after this and had a fantastic opportunity to take the lead in the 14th minute when Stephen Thompson had an effort blocked, then the following rebounds from Mikey Roberts and Glen Butterworth were blocked on the line before the defence could eventually clear.

But after 33 minutes, the Anchors took the lead when Tom Coulthard picked out an inch perfect over-the-top through ball which Lewis King ran onto and powered it across the goalkeeper for his first goal of the season. 

Seven minutes later, the lead was doubled when Kevin Hayes cut inside from the right and fizzed a ball into the box which Matty Tymon met to head home to give Stockton a 2-0 lead going into half time.

Lincoln came out fighting to start the second half, and nearly pulled a goal back after 47 minutes when substitute Tayo Alexander-Tucker cut inside from the left and fired a long range effort which bounced off the crossbar and just out of reach for Matthew Cotton on the rebound. 

Both sides were having chances early in the second half and Stockton’s loan goalkeeper Henry Popple was forced into some good saves to keep the score at 2-0.

Glen Butterworth had a brilliant opportunity to open his Stockton Town tally, after his run got picked out brilliantly but his effort was matched with a good save by the onrushing Jack Steggles in the Lincoln goal. 

After 65 minutes, Kevin Hayes added a third for the Anchors in Kevin Hayes fashion, cutting inside the right and firing a low shot into the bottom corner from outside the box.

Only five minutes later, a cross from Kevin Hayes found Liam Cooke unmarked at the back post, his scuffed effort on goal travelled across the box which Matty Tymon headed in on the line to put Stockton 4-0 up.

After a flurry of opportunities to score a fifth, Stockton eventually put the icing on the cake in the 87th minute after a brilliant, weak footed cross from Liam Cooke on the left wing found Matty Tymon in space in the area which he headed into the net for his first hat-trick as a Stockton Town player.

The game ended 5-0 to the Anchors which ended a four game winless run, and keep the Anchors in 2nd place ahead of their trip to North Shields on Wednesday night. 

Stockton Town: Popple, King, McWilliams, Portas, Nicholson, Coulthard, Hayes, Butterworth (Painter 71’), Tymon, Thompson (N. Mulligan 69’), M. Roberts (Cooke 63’)

Unused Subs: Hall, Beddow

Lincoln United: Steggles, Mussell, K. Smith, Clarke, Adelekan, Foster, Liversidge, Dye, Park, Cotton (L. Smith 74’), Priestley (Alexander-Tucker 45’)

Unused subs: Griffin, Millard, Payne

Goals: 1-0, King 33’, 2-0, Tymon 40’, 3-0, Hayes 65’, 4-0 Tymon 70’, 5-0, Tymon 87’.

Attendance: 482

Words: Jordan Clarke

Photo: Harry Cook