Bull's Historian puts the record straight

Lionel Ainsworth's first-half hat-trick and the half-time scoreline of 4-0 has set people wondering if either has ever been done before. Ron Parrott, United's Club Historian, has also been scouring the records to settle the arguments. A 4-0 half-time scoreline is actually quite common and was last achieved by United (in a competitive match) as recently as 2003/04 at Forest Green, with Hereford going on to win 7-1.

A first-half hat-trick is also not rare and it has been achieved 22 times since the war. The most recent was Richard Leadbeater's hat-trick in the first half at Kidderminster in a 4-1 victory and prior to that Jon Narbett notched three v Scarborough in 1991/2, also in a 4-1 victory.

The full list in case anyone is interested is: -
1970/1 - Alan Rodgerson v Hillingdon ( a hat-trick in 11 minutes)
1967/8 - Albert Derrick v Llanidloes (Welsh Cup) - scoring 5 in total.
1965/6 - Brian Punter v Newtown (Welsh Cup)
1961/2 - Roy Williams v Romford (A)
1956/7 - Reggie Bowen v Yeovil in a 6-0 thrashing
1956/7 - Freddie Jones v Gloucester City. (6-0 ht, 8-0 ft)_
1956-7 - Roy Williams v Merthyr Tydfil
1956/7 - Cyril Beech v Chelmsford City
1955/6 - John Thomson v Dartford
1955/6 - George Mountford v Nuneaton B (FAC)
1954/5 - Les James v Exeter City Reserves
1953/4 - Jimmy Higgins v Exeter City Reserves
1952/3 - Tommy Best v Exeter City Reserves (SLC)
1951/2 - Tommy Best v Exeter City Reserves
1950/1 - Tommy Best v Cheltenham Town (a hat-trick in 4 minutes, the quickest ever in United's history, equalling Charlie Thompson in 1947/8)
1947/8 - Charlie Thompson v Gravesend
1947/8 - Charlie Thompson v Cheltenham Town
1947/8 - Charlie Thompson v Thynnes Athletic (FAC) - Charlie scoring 8 times in an 11-0 record victory. His goals coming after 4, 10, 15, 48, 49, 52, 61 & 65 minutes. The most ever by a United player in one competitive game.
1945/6 - Billy Keenan v Cardiff City Reserves
1945/6 - Jackie Brown v Swindon Town Reserves

Asked how many of those games contained both a hat-trick and a four goal lead by half time, Ron listed the games:

1967/8 v Llanidloes, ended 8-1
1965/6 v Newtown, ended 9-1
1961/2 v Romford, ended 5-4
1956/7 v Merthyr Tydfil, ended 5-0
1954/5 v Exeter City Reserves, ended 6-1
1947/8 v Cheltenham Town, ended 7-1

Thus, last night has the dubious distinction of being the only ever occasion we have been 4-0 up at half time and failed to improve on it in the second half!

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