In a remarkable game at Frenchfield, Penrith continued their climb up the Northern League table with an emphatic 9-3 home win over Redcar Athletic.
It produced a remarkable start with three goals in the first three minutes with Penrith leading 2-1 but by half-time the sides were locked at 3-3.
Then in the second-half Penrith scored six times without reply to run out clear-cut winners.
Manager Darren Edmondson said: “It was like a basketball game, end to end and really the intensity of the first half was unbelievable.
“Ewe had opportunities to go 3-2 ahead, even 4-2 but we hit the bar and although we did finally regain the lead they got level right on half-time with a penalty which was a bit disappointing.
“They have some big powerful lads and get the ball into the box from long throws so they are a handful and we just talked about getting control of the game in the second half – and that’s what they did.
“That was down to the players, not the staff, and we were excellent in all areas of the pitch. We scored some fantastic goals with a couple of the lads getting hat-tricks. They are playing with a lot of confidence now and that’s six or seven unbeaten at home – and with a run of more home games to come.
“There are some tough ones in there but there’s a lot more positive feel about the club now than there was back in October after we’d played all those away games in a row. We are getting players back and they are playing with a lot of confidence so a lot to feel pleased about.
“But we have no game next week-end and will looking at a work-out to involve those who have been short of game time ready for resuming the following week, which will be the start of a busy spell of Saturday, Tuesday matches.”
Connor Shields had put the Bonnyblues ahead after a minute only for Mason McNeill to level a minute later. Then, in this frantic star, Shields added his second after three minutes.
Dale Hopson levelled again after 16 minutes before Conor Hammell (33) nosed Penrith back in front only for Hopson to score his second from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time and send the sides into the break all square.
Three goals in six minutes turned the game Penrith’s way soon after the re-start with Shields (51) completing his hat-trick and Luke Hunter (52) and Hammell (57) also on the mark.
Shields (62) added his fourth; Hammell (80) completed his hat-trick and Hunter (84) rounded it all off with his second.
