Carlisle United’s long suffering fans were treated to a five goal feast and a new hero at Brunton Park.
The Bank Holiday game saw the Blues hit five without reply against Braintree and three of them were scored by Regan Linney.
The 28-year-old has scored goals throughout his non-League career but wants to prove himself in the Football League.
After signing a three-year deal with Carlisle both the player and the club believe he will get that chance – preferably next season.
Preston-born Linney, started his career at Bamber Bridge breaking into the first team aged 17.
He was then signed by FC United of Manchester for an undisclosed fee in 2019, where he made 97 appearances and scored 40 goals.
Moving to Altrincham, he made 93 appearances and scored 44 goals, in his two-and-a-half seasons.
The way he was scoring in pre-season for United suggested that whatever they had paid Altrincham for his services it was well worth it.
Against a fragile-looking Braintree defence Linney opened the scoring on 15 minutes with a clever curling finish.
The home side made it 2-0 on 29 minutes when Braintree central defender George Langston turned a cross from Luke Armstrong into his own net.
It was virtually game over when the admirable Linney knocked home a penalty on 54 minutes.
He completed his hat-trick on 65 minutes – his fifth goal of the season – when he nodded home a corner from Cameron Harper.
It was another header, this time by Jack Ellis, which completed the scoring and as a result moved-up Carlisle to third in the early table.
