Ruckus Park, Hampshire. Att: 28,763.
Garry Stretford's first professional hat-trick helped the South Coast Ruckus tear through the Nottingham Fire as the home club celebrated their first ever game at purposely-built Ruckus Park.
The team in yellow, green and grey thrashed the Fire 5-2 with Martin King and Michael Heany also joining in Stretford's party with goals of their own.
The young 21-year-old midfielder Stretford also had a solid performance for England in the second half of the 5-0 friendly thrashing of South Africa on Wednesday, setting up the final two goals, and winning the Vodafone Man of the Match award.
He has been linked with a move away from Southern England, with clubs like Monsters, London Town and London United reportedly interested in the London-born midfielder.
But that did not stop him from scoring a perfect hat-trick against Nottingham - the first goal came from a sweet left-footed volley, the second from a right-footed curling free-kick and the third from a header from King's cross (no pun intended).
With the Ruckus leading 5-0 with ten minutes remaining, the Fire did their best to start a mini comeback with goals from Ben Judd and Erik Lyngstad.
Goals
Ruckus: Stretford 4', 31', 66', Heany 46', King 76'.
Fire: Judd 81', Lyngstad 85'.
