Sunday 25th April 2010
Monsters Park, Teesside. Att: 31,495.
Ian Parker's long-awaited comeback game turned out to be one he'll remember for a long time as the England midfielder netted a hat-trick in the Tyne-Tees derby as the Monsters routed the Newcastle Geordies four goals to nil.
23-year-old Parker had finally made his return in the green-and-purple shirt after recovering from a serious knee injury suffered last August which forced him to miss the remainder of last season as well as Monsters' Champions League adventure which continues.
And the Teesside outfit will benefit from his comeback as he stunned the Geordies by hitting a perfect hat-trick.
The auburn-haired speedster linked up very well with Darren Watkinson, and after a one-two with the midfielder, Parker chipped Newcastle stopper Jackie Stackman with the outside of his left foot.
He later scored the second with a superb leaping header, outjumping Geordies' big Swiss centre-back Martin Machler, from Quique's cross.
And for Stackman, whose hopes of making the cut for England's CSA World Cup squad appear to be vanishing week after week, the misery would not end as Spain striker Quique scored the third before Parker completed his treble with a 20-yard rocket with his preferred right foot to give the Monsters a valuable victory over their most hated rivals.
Goals
Monsters: Parker 13', 57', 87', Quique 76'.
Geordies: none.
