Wednesday 27th January 2010, Weston Homes Community Stadium, Kick-Off 7:30pm, Essex Senior Cup supported by BBC Essex Quarter-Final.
A hat-trick from Scott Vernon set Colchester United en-route to the Essex Senior Cup supported by BBC Essex semi-finals as they routed Maldon Town 7-1 at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.
Vernon returned from three months on the sidelines to sink Town with a well-taken trio before being replaced by Craig Arnott, who himself added a brace. Colchester began the tie strongly but had to be patient before finally getting the crucial breakthrough on 28 minutes, Vernon neatly finishing into the bottom corner after Jordan Pavett had knocked down Jordan Lartey’s right-wing cross.
Two minutes into first half stoppage time Vernon doubled the lead, firing past Maldon ‘keeper Daren Smith having found himself through-on-goal. Vernon’s last action of the evening arrived on the hour mark, grabbing Colchester’s third, and with it his hat-trick, as he nodded home David Fox’s centre after a long kick from U’s ‘keeper Mark Cousins.
Despite the deficit, Maldon grew in confidence and Cousins had already been tested before the visitors pulled a goal back on 69, substitute Shawn Beverney sending a long-range effort flying past Cousins into the top corner. Seven minutes later, though, Colchester’s three-goal cushion was restored as Vernon’s replacement Arnott picked-up a loose ball in the box before passing Smith and slotting into an unguarded net.
A minute later David Fox added a fifth, shooting across Smith into the far corner before another substitute, Michael Rafter, coolly slotted home a sixth on 81 following good work by Fox and Simon Hackney. With two minutes remaining, Arnott scored his second to wrap things up, curling an unstoppable effort past Smith.
Colchester United: Mark Cousins, Alan Maybury, Jordan Lartey, Bradley Hamilton, Medy Elito, Louis O’Sullivan, Simon Hackney, Scott Vernon, David Fox, Daniel Batth, Jordan Pavitt. Substitutes: Shane Cusack, Craig Arnott, Jordan Sanderson, Conor McCloskey, Michael Rafter.
Maldon Town: Darren Smith, Dan Harvey, Luke Webster, Liam White, Billy Smith, Stan Muguo, Michael Amao, James Abbott, Jack Jeffreys, Jamie Ricks, Steve Wareham. Substitutes: Daryl Plummer, Glen Knight, Shawn Beverney, Benson Paka, Lewen Ward.
Referee: Steve Rubery (Ilford).
Assistant Referees: Stuart Gillman (Wivenhoe) and Simon Essex (Colchester).