Tristan Abrahams admits he was ‘buzzing’ to score his first ever professional hat-trick as Newport County AFC played out a thrilling 7-4 victory at Cheltenham Town in the Leasing.Com Trophy.
The Exiles scored with every shot on target as Abrahams completed a sublime treble - rounding home goalkeeper Rhys Lovett for the first, converting George Nurse’s cross for the second, then curling a crisp strike into the top corner from outside the box to round off County’s evening.
Taylor Maloney also bagged a hat-trick - all three goals coming from outside the penalty area - while Matty Dolan converted a penalty as County scored seven on the road for the first time since a victory at Gateshead in 2011.
And despite County having a break this weekend due to international call-ups, Abrahams insists the squad are determined to carry over the momentum from victory in Gloucestershire when returning to action next week.
On the victory over Cheltenham Town in the Leasing.Com Trophy...
“We’ve been struggling to score goals recently so to get seven goals means everyone is buzzing with it. It seems like it clicked in this game so hopefully we build on it in the next game.
“We take every game as an important game. For myself personally, every game is an opportunity to score goals, improve my game, work on different things and obviously get fitter.
“I think that’s how all the boys saw the game, another opportunity to get better and build as a team.”
On scoring his first professional hat-trick...
“It was my first professional hat-trick so I’m buzzing to get that - I love scoring goals.
“All I want to do is score goals and to get a hat-trick is what you dream of as a striker, my first pro one so hopefully it’s the first of many, many more.
“I’ve had an earful from Corey and Dom about not playing them in [for the hat-trick goal] but after you’ve scored two goals, I was full of confidence and I backed myself to score. Luckily I did because I don’t think I’d be doing this interview if I didn’t.
“I just want to build on this now, I know I’m not going to be able to score hat-tricks every week but I definitely want to take confidence from this game and build upon it to pick up some form ahead of a good run of games.
“Taylor got his hat-trick first so he took the match ball and I went and got one from the Fourth Official. I think I’m going to get a little box and put it around the house somewhere. It’s something I’m going to keep forever.”
On an Emirates FA Cup First Round replay next week...
“We know that we’ve got to beat Grimsby Town first before we think about anything else. We take this game as if it were a final or any other league game, we’ll prepare for it properly and try to win the game.
“You never know what you’re going to get in the FA Cup. Everyone knows it’s a special competition and it just depends on who is the better team on the day.
“For me, I was just buzzing we were still in the competition and had the opportunity to give it another go next week. It was a frustrating performance knowing we were the better side and should have won the game.
“Now we’re going back to Rodney Parade so hopefully we can get the win and go from there.
“I think it’s a massive game. I think it’s also important that we get as many supporters there as possible to cheer us on because they help us massively with every game they’re there.
“We appreciate the support a lot so hopefully as many as possible will turn out.”