Side Defeat Hackney Wick

Tony Cookey was 'Side's star man last night. The forward, a second-half substitute came on and grabbed a hat-trick, bringing his goal tally for the season to seven.

Hackney's Jeffrey Idemudia had the first real chance of the game but shot into the side netting following a corner. Shortly after Euan Taylor-Reid headed a corner over for ‘Side.

Will Hunt in goal wasn't tested much in the first half. The keeper was really only called upon once when he saved Sergo Sidibe's free-kick before keeping out the rebound from Alejandro Ramires.

The hosts had the final chances of the half. First Charlie Little saw a header saved by Gabriel Pietrzyk, before Aaron Lesta fired over.

Michael Walther made changes early in the second half with forwards Tony Cookey and Michael Ogboin coming on for Lesta and Jones.

Cookey put 'Side ahead on 66 minutes, at the third attempt of asking. After seeing a strike hit the bar, his shot on the rebound was saved by Pietrzyk. However persistence pays off and the forward lashed the second rebound in to score.

The forward then made it 2-0 on 72 minutes when he lobbed the keeper with style after being put through.

With the match now firmly in Walther's men's hands, it was just a matter of if Cookey would complete his hat-trick.

After being denied by Pietrzyk again, the forward completed his treble in injury-time, tapping in after good work by Ogboin.

Walther's men are back in action on Saturday when they face Enfield 1893 away from home.

‘Side: Will Hunt, Joe Newbold, Bradley Gayer, Michael Bottone, Euan Taylor-Reid, Garrett Kelly, Gareth Jones (Michael Ogboin) Jayden Mitchell-Brown, Charlie Little, Aaron Lesta (Tony Cookey), Michael Sherwood (Jason Fontaine)

Subs Not Used: Adegoke Adetunji, David Etcheri