Blue Toon attacker Leighton McIntosh was thrilled to make the most of his opportunity alongside Rory McAllister with a superb hat-trick as Peterhead routed Cowdenbeath in League 1.
The front two ripped their opponents apart at Balmoor, as the home side scored seven to rack up easily its biggest win of the season.
McIntosh said: “It’s brilliant and that is the first time I have started through the middle so I wanted to show the manager I could play there because I would say that is my position.
“That is my first hat-trick as I had never got past two before. I had managed a few doubles so it feels nice to be going home with the match ball.
“I really enjoyed playing with Rory because I know what I am going to get from him.
“I can anticipate the things he is going to do. He is always trying tricks and getting past defenders to open up space so hopefully we can keep playing together and keep getting results.”
McIntosh started the scoring in the 16th minute, finding space in the box to head home McAllister’s right-wing cross from close range.
Before the visitors had to time regroup, Peterhead were two goals in front as Jordon Brown reacted to McIntosh’s knock-down to sidefoot the ball inside the far corner.
After McAllister clipped the top of the crossbar, the two goalscorers doubled their own tallies before the break. Brown swept McIntosh’s pass high past Jamie Sneddon in the 32nd minute and then McIntosh latched on to Steven Noble’s long punt to score number four in the 43rd minute.
There was to be no damage limitation from Colin Nish’s team in the second half as the Blue Toon continued to look menacing every time they broke forward. McIntosh completed his treble in the 55th minute by shooting past Sneddon with a near-post effort, before McAllister got in on the act four minutes later with a crisp 14-yard drive from Brown’s lay-off. Cowdenbeath were put out of their misery after substitute Scott Ferries rounded off the scoring with two minutes remaining. The youngster tapped in his first goal for the club after McAllister linked neatly with Andy Rodgers.
McIntosh added: “We were due a result like that because we have been playing well, but just not getting the rewards.”