Banks hits a treble as Staxigoe go through
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A MARTIN Banks hat-trick helped Staxigoe United book their passage into the first round proper of the Eain MacIntosh Cup with a 3-0 win at Watten.
For Banks’ brother and team manager, Andrew, Martin’s recent goalscoring heroics have been raising an eyebrow or two.
Andrew said: “Martin has been scoring a few goals of late which is usual for him as he’s not been known for hitting the back of the net in the past.
“I guess 10 years of practice finally makes perfect. But the past two seasons has seen a spike in his goalscoring and we’re hoping it keeps going.
“His first goal had a wee bit of fortune. He took a free kick from far out with the intention of crossing it into the box for someone else to head or slot the ball in.
“However, everybody completely missed it – our players, their defenders and their goalie – and it went straight in.
“Martin’s other two goals were more conventional and very well taken. It was a good exercise as Watten are not the whipping boys they once were.
“Stuart Sinclair has improved them a lot and they made it very tough for us.”
Sinclair was disappointed to exit the cup but pleased at the way his side kept going.
He said: “The boys played well and I could not fault their effort and attitude.
“As for their first goal, I think our keeper was anticipating somebody touching it only that touch never came and in it went.
“I though we might have had a penalty when Scott McAlpine went down.”
