McDowell hits a hat-trick as Southwick seal second league win

Action from Southwick's pre-season friendly with Shoreham. Picture: Stephen Goodger

McDowell’s trio, which came in 78 minutes, ensured Southwick ran out 3-1 victors at Billingshurst.

It was a first victory in four matches in all competitions and Wickers manager John Kilgarriff is hopeful his side can build from it..

He said: “It’s just our second league win so far this season and I’m hopeful we can start to build from this now.

“We’ve shaped together a fairly new side but they’ve been really impressive in these past couple of games.

“I felt Ross Petts, Jack Piner and new signing Jacob Cook were exceptional in the midfield and we deserved this victory.

“When you’ve got someone like Andy up top you know he is going to get you goals provided with service.

“He’s one of the best strikers in this division and he really showed his class with his hat-trick.

“We’ve got some difficult games coming up but we’ll be looking to build from this win now.”

Wickers were in front after 31 minutes following a fine team goal, a 15-pass move was finished as Elliott Tucker’s delivery was headed home by McDowell.

Southwick were two goals to the good with just three minutes gone in the second as McDowell rounded Billingshurst’s goalkeeper before slotting home.

Hurst had a lifeline with 25 minutes left to play as Pat O’Sullivan pulled one back for the home side.

However, with 12 minutes left McDowell completed his hat-trick and secured a much-needed three points for Wickers.

Once again Tucker delivered a fine ball which the forward headed home to make it 3-1.

Brad Stevens pulled off a fine stop ten minutes from time to ensure Southwick weren’t in for a nervy final few minutes as they clinched just a second league win this season.

SOUTHWICK: Stevens; Tucker, Smith, Lipscombe, Peskett, Piner, Petts, Cook; Myers, McDowell, Groom. Subs: Piner (Bidwell), Lipscombe (Gillard), Locke.