Harder praises Worbey after brilliant hat-trick

By [jslewis]

ELMORE joint-manager Simon Harder hailed Brett Worbey as 'one of the best midfielders in the league' following his hat-trick against Almondsbury on Saturday.

Worbey scored a free-kick and a penalty as well as one from open play during the Eagles' 6-2 rout.

The treble rounded off a good day for Harder, who saw his side rise to 16th in the Western League First Division.

Harder said: "Brett is one of the best midfielders in the league. He's an all-round player who's good on the ball, got a great engine and he can hit a pass as well.

"It was a good result in a big game for us. The boys will say they didn't play particularly well, but to win a game like that was a big boost.

"We seem to get dragged down against the lower sides but we have now won four away, drawn one at home and lost narrowly to Larkhall in recent weeks."

Almondsbury took the lead in the first 10 minutes, when Elmore were caught out by a long ball over the top.

But the visitors hit back when Worbey equalised with a free-kick from the edge of the box.

That strike sparked an avalanche of goals for the Horsdon Park outfit, who netted three more times in the following 15 minutes through Danny Tapp, Matt Harvey and Worbey's penalty.

The hosts hit back after the break and pulled one back for 4-2, but any lingering doubts over the result were dismissed when Harvey scored his second, shortly before Worbey completed his hat-trick by slotting through the advancing keeper's legs.

Harder said: "In the last seven or eight games we have had a settled side and that has been a big bonus for us — we have shown what we can do and what we are about.

"I always said we would be able to do well if we can put out the same side each week and we have done that in the last few weeks.

"It looks promising if we can carry on and keep the lads together for next year."