Barnet 3 Havant and Waterlooville 0

FA Cup

Fourth qualifying round replay

What an unforgettable night for Wayne Purser! Barnet's 21-year-old striker completed a hat-trick in four minutes on Tuesday, the third fastest in the history of the FA Cup, and the quickest for 30 years since Billy Best achieved it in 2mins 58secs for Southend United. The record, 2mins 20secs, by Andrew Lock for Nantwich, has stood since 1935.

"It's a great feeling," an elated Purser said. "I was thrilled when I got a hat-trick for QPR U19s a couple of seasons ago, but this is the best moment of my career. Manager John Still tells me to use my pace and that's what I try to do."

Purser's blistering speed and brilliant opportunism was all too much for Havant as he set Barnet on the way to a first round home tie with Third Division Carlisle on November 17, and a £20,000 prize for getting there. Purser collected the match ball and will receive a bottle of champagne from chairman Tony Kleanthous.

His goal blitz began in the 35th minute when he raced on to Lee Flynn's through ball and left former Barnet defender Shaun Gale trailing before neatly chipping over keeper Paul Nicholls. Two minutes later, Ben Strevens provided the pass for Purser to pick his spot with a powerful shot for his second.

His best goal came when he completed his hat-trick in the 39th minute, again outpacing Gale in a 40-yard dash, before firing home with his left foot.

With any luck Purser would have boosted his tally to five. On the stroke of half-time, his powerful diving header crashed against the post, and on the hour, his goalbound shot was blocked on the line by Havant striker James Taylor.

Barnet might well have been rewarded with a few more goals. Mark Gower twice forced fine saves from keeper Nicholls, and Mark Arber's header was cleared off the line. Bees keeper Lee Harrison was only twice seriously tested, producing fine saves from Taylor and Dean Blake.

BARNET: Harrison; Gledhill, Heald, Arber, Flynn; Niven, Sawyers, Bell, Gower (Midgley 88); Strevens, Purser. Subs not used: Essandoh, Naisbitt, Brown, Pluck.

Attendance: 1,414. Man of the match: Purser.

November 7, 2001 19:52

JOHN POLLARD