In this week’s nostalgia, we take a look back to when unsung striker Neil Gregory scored a first half hat-trick as Ipswich Town beat Sheffield United 3-1 at Portman Road in March 1997...
Loaned out to Torquay before Christmas and a long way down the list of manager George Burley’s preferred strikers, Neil Gregory took his chances when given an opportunity, scoring a first-half hat-trick at Portman Road in March 1997.
He bagged his first goal after 19 seconds and added a second in the 11th minute. On both occasions the Blades’ defence was caught woefully square as Gregory streaked away to finish decisively past United keeper Simon Tracey.
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The visitors began to find their own spaces in attack and were back in it in the 21st minute, as Jan Fjortoft punished a badly misdirected header by Steve Sedgley to score from a testing angle.
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However, they continued to look vulnerable to Gregory’s pace, and his hat-trick came in the 37th minute after another incisive through-ball from Paul Mason.
Town XI: R Wright (GK). Stockwell, Taricco, Vaughan, Swailes, Williams, Uhlenbeek, Sedgley, Gregory, Scowcroft (Milton), Mason (Dyer). Attendance: 10,374.
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