Local star Boothy back with a bang thanks to consecutive hat-tricks

Six goals in his first two starts of the season have helped Tigers to two important wins on the trot.

And the local man is just happy to be back in action, after injury hell that has plagued him for four years.

Booth featured sporadically for Tigers last season, but a recurring knee problem eventually ended his season.

It wasn’t until last week that he could take part in competitive matches again.

But he announced his comeback in style, with back-to-back hat-tricks.

He’s understandable delighted: “It’s good to be back.

“The role that Mark has asked me to play suits me.

“I’m not as mobile or as fit as I once was, so he’s told me to push on, stay as central as I can and just look for bits in the box.

“Fortunately, with six in the last two, it’s paying off.

“I’ve had a lot of knee problems over the past four years, so it’s nice just to get a bit of a run.

“Touch wood it can carry on.”

After bagging all the goals on Saturday, he picked up where he left off early on Wednesday night, with a spectacular effort.

“It was a great ball from Roey, it was just perfect to hit on the turn and fortunately it’s looped in off the bar,” he said.

“For the second, Nightingale was lining up for a shot, so I instinctively ran in looking for any bits.

“And there was no chance anyone else was having the penalty.

“I think Roey said to Woolley I’ll give you a fiver if you just run up and smash the ball, but thankfully he didn’t. No one else was having that.

“I was a bit disappointed not to score my third earlier, I had a little turn and put it a bit close to the keeper, but I’mglad Wardy got his hat-trick as well.”

Booth, known to many in the town as a Sunday League goalscorer and plumber, has quite the rapport with the Tigers faithful.

He explains: “I’m a local person, I think that helps.

“I think they can see I give everything and I care a lot about the club.

“I was here when I was Under 18s and Under 19s, and it’s a club I’ve come down as supported in the past so that’s probably why they have a little bit of a soft spot for me.”

And as attention now turns to a tough test in the form of Tadcaster on Saturday, Booth wants Worksop to replicate their midweek display.

“We’ve just got to go in with the same attitude and the same quality as we did on Wednesday.

“It was easy for me with those four behind me just floating about, so all I had to do was stand about and wait for bits and pieces.”