United’s in-form winger Josh Morris scored a first career hat trick on Tuesday night, as he helped his side on their way to a commanding 4-1 away victory.
The victory came over last season’s play off semi-finalists, Walsall, at the Banks's Stadium.
Morris smashed home from the penalty spot after 11 minutes, when Liam Kinsella handled in the area. The 24-year-old then doubled his, and the Iron’s tally, as he capitalised on a rebounded effort following a save Tom Hopper. Erhun Oztumer equalised just before the break for the hosts, in the only moment of a lapse in concentration for United.
Neal Bishop’s unstoppable effort immediately after half time settled any nervousness in the Iron ranks, before a dominating 45 minutes was completed with a curling effort into the top corner from Morris with less than ten to go.
“I’m delighted, that’s my first one (hat-trick),” Morris told The Iron PlayerHD.
“I’m delighted to also get the three points more importantly on a tough night.
“I thought we were excellent from start to finish, bar the goal before half time. It was a great team performance, but nice to get the hat trick to go with it.”
Morris is now the top scorer across all of the top league’s in Europe – and what’s better, is that he has got there by scoring all of his goals from midfield.
“It’s mad. You don’t think about that when I get out there, I just try and do my best for the team," he continued.
Morris was full of praise for Luke Daniels, as the number one pulled off a reflex save just before half time, moments after Oztumer’s goal. A goal at that point could have led to a very different outcome.
“It was a massive save from Luke. We looked really comfortable for 40 minutes, but that save set us up for the second half.
“We came out in the second half and started the tempo well, and Bish obviously got his goal which was a great goal, and that set us on our way.”
Bishop isn’t a man who finds himself on the scoresheet often, but the timing of that goal could not have been more perfect, according to the winger.
“It shows his class. He’s been there and done it, and is a great man to have in the dressing room," he stated.
“It shows that you need someone like him to step up like that and put the game to bed, and I think that’s what it did. It knocked the stuffing out of them and it was exactly what we needed.”
Morris won the League One Player of the month accolade for August, and his form in September will have gone a long way to the possibility of securing it in consecutive months.
“We’ll see what they say when they make the decision. It’s October next week so we will see. It just shows how well I’ve settled in here and it’s just great to be back playing after a frustrating season last year.”
A tough trip to Bury is next on the agenda, but Morris and the whole Iron squad will go there fearless and hoping to lay down yet another marker.
“It’s very early on, but we’ve started well and so have they. We have to recover now and make sure we’re ready for Saturday,” he concluded.
See more from Josh Morris, Graham Alexander and Neal Bishop on The Iron PlayerHD.