Town's smart Alex! (From Daily Echo)

Town's smart Alex!

4:19pm Monday 13th February 2012 in Sport By Wendy Gee

NEW Milton's master marksman Alex Baldacchino gave Newport IoW a reminder of what they’re missing as he shot down the Islanders with a hat- trick at Fawcetts Field on Saturday.

While Port boss Steve Brougham headed back across The Solent bemoaning his lack of a 30-goal-a-season man, his opposite number Glenn Burnett was basking in the glow of a 5-2 Sydenhams Premier victory – and thanking his lucky stars for having a natural finisher like 21-year-old Baldacchino in the ranks.

The Portsmouth University student, a dual-signing from Conference South outfit Havant & Waterlooville, has now struck 31 times in all competitions this term – not bad for a slightly built, 5ft 8in player who didn’t even start his career up front.

Until the age of 17, Baldacchino plied his trade as a winger or central midfielder until the penny dropped that he was lethal in front of goal.

“I joined Havant as a 16-year- old and scored a few from mid field,” Baldacchino explained.

“When they saw I was good at attacking, they put me up front and I haven’t looked back. I’ve got 31 altogether this season which is probably my most ever.”

For the Linnets, it was their fourth win in the last five Sydenhams Premier Division games.

“Today was the same as we’ve been doing for the last five or six games – totally domi nating for 90 minutes,” said manager Burnett.

“We should have had an early penalty for a foul on Alex (Baldacchino) which wasn’t given, but he soon made up for it.

"If Alex gets an opportunity, he takes it. It’s no wonder we’ve had five seven-day approaches for him. What happens with Alex is down to (Havant boss) Shaun Gale, but we’ve got him for the rest of the season."

*Full report and Sydenhams Wessex round-up in today's Echo.