Nahki Wells and his Queens Park Rangers returned to winning ways in quite remarkable fashion – scoring six goals for the first time since 1999 to brutally see off Cardiff City at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.
Wells hit a hat-trick, Bright Osayi-Samuel two goals and Ebere Eze another – QPR netting three times in either half to kick off 2020 in emphatic fashion.
Cardiff were actually in good form before this Sky Bet Championship fixture, but found themselves behind early on after Wells’ ninth-minute header. Wells hit his second goal – QPR’s fourth – in the 48th minute.
Wells rounded off Rangers’ scoring on 65 minutes – ensuring he’d be taking home the match ball on a truly-memorable New Year’s Day for the Super Hoops.
NATHAN TROTT
Charlie Kelman’s injury-time penalty secured Southend United a point on the road as Nathan Trott and his AFC Wimbledon teammates began 2020 with a 1-1 draw at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.
REGGIE LAMBE
Ten man Cambridge United suffered a second half fightback against Mansfield Town who took the spoils 2-3 at the Abbey on New Year’s Day.
United had led at the break through Harvey Knibbs and Greg Taylor, but the game turned when Reggie Lambe was given his marching orders and Nicky Maynard went on to complete a hat-trick for the Stags.
United’s task of holding on to an advantage became tougher on the hour mark when Lambe was shown a pair of yellow cards, the second of which looked harsh on the Bermudian.
MILAN BUTTERFIELD & KNORY SCOTT
Milan Butterfield played the 90 minutes, while Knory Scott was an unused substitute as Kidderminster went down 2 – 1 to Hereford.
After a scoreless first half Hereford took the lead in the 50th minute when Victor Sodiende scored, Hereford doubled the lead in the 80th minute through an own goal. Kidderminster pulled a goal back in injury time through Ashley Hemmings, but they could not find the equalizer.
OSAGI BASCOME & JUSTIN DONAWA
Justin Donawa started and scored, while Osagi Bascone was an unused substitute as Darlington were beaten by two goals in last five minutes.
Down 1 – 0 after 38 minutes, and Donawa leveled the score, a cross into the middle for saw Donawa head cleanly past the Spennymoor Town goalkeeper for his 8th goal of the season.
But Spennymoor scored in the 85th and 90th minutes to earn the win.