James Hayter – Bournemouth 6 – 0 Wrexham (24/2/04)
February 24 2004 will be a day that James Hayter is always going to remember, but one that his parents may wish they could forget. As Hayter came on as a substitute in the 85th minute for Bournemouth against Wrexham Mr and Mrs Hayter were already leaving the stadium to catch the ferry back to the Isle of Wight. They were to miss the fastest ever Football League hat trick of all time as the Cherries’ marksman notched his treble in just 2 minutes 21 seconds.
Bournemouth were already cruising to victory as they led the Welsh side 3-0 with five minutes to go when Hayter entered the pitch. Even when he met Brian Stock’s cross to score within seconds of coming on you would have been forgiven for thinking the next five or so minutes would have been a dead rubber. The striker, who now plays for Yeovil in League 1, was obviously eager for more and when slotted through one on one he duly took his chance to make it two in a minute, sending Dean Court into raptures.
With the backing of the jubilant home fans Bournemouth could then sense a sixth, and Wrexham could only hold out for another minute before Hayter was once again played in with the goal at his mercy. Within three minutes of coming on he had grabbed himself three goals, and promptly written himself into the record books at the same time.
Wrexham came into the game dreaming of the playoffs but after the humiliation on the South Coast that Tuesday evening they finished in mid-table, Hayter’s goals couldn’t steer the Cherries to promotion as they finished ninth. Mr and Mrs Hayter will have to make do with the videos of the historic night, but it is a night that the Cherries’ fans that did stay will remember for a long time.
