Americans Abroad

Cleary accomplishes first, his hat trick gives Worksop Town an FA Cup victory.

Chris Cleary had three goals -- and nearly four -- in sending Worksop Town to the FA Cup's fourth qualifying round. -- Worksop Town web site photo --

By Gary Davidson (in Washington, D.C.)
SoccerTimes

(Wednesday, October 20, 2004) -- There are many Americans toiling in England's top soccer leagues, but none have accomplished what midfielder Chris Cleary did Saturday. The 25-year-old Boston native became the first player from the United States to score three goals in an FA Cup match.

Cleary's hat trick led Worksop Town to a 3-2 triumph over Droylsden in a meeting of sixth-division Nationwide Conference North clubs in the third qualifying round. The FA Cup is open to all clubs of all levels in England.

Today, England's Football Association announced Cleary was nominated for the FA Cup Player of the Round Award.

"The hat-trick Chris scored at the weekend may not generate the same column inches as a winning semifinal goal, but his outstanding contribution to the competition is something that the FA is delighted to recognize," the FA's Trevor Brooking told Reuters.

Cleary, who was born in Washington, D.C., but grew up in Milton, Mass., played for four years for Boston College (1998-2001), scoring 12 goals and adding 17 assists in 72 games, 68 starts. He then signed with Karlsruher SC in the German second division and later went to SVL Ludwigswinkel. After an injury rehabilitation, he moved to England and Worksop Town.

"After losing my way a bit in Germany, the appeal of coming to England, getting fit and then hopefully getting a move to a higher club really appealed, as it does to all players at this level," Cleary told Reuters. "And a run in the FA Cup would certainly put the spotlight on the club."

Against Droylsden, Gary Townsend sent a cross toward Cleary. The ball deflected off a defender and Cleary beat goalkeeper Paul Phillips for a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute.

In the 25th minute, the Tigers went 2-0 ahead after Cleary ran at the opposing defense and fired a shot past an advancing Phillips, who got a touch to the ball but could not prevent it settling in the bottom corner.

Two minutes later, Droyslden pulled to within 2-1, a score that held until a thrilling finish. Cleary nearly made it 3-1 after he elevated over a defender to put a header past Phillips, but Droylsden defender and captain Garry Burke then headed the ball off his goal line.

In the 85th minute, Cleary was not to be denied. He beat an attempted offside trap and coolly chipped the ball over Phillips to give Worksop Town a 3-1 lead.

The goal proved important because Burke stepped between a confused Worksop defense to poke home a rebound in the 90th minute for the Bloods.

Worksop Town hosts Alfreton Town, also of the Nationwide Conference North, in the fourth qualifying round.

Gary Davidson is SoccerTimes' managing editor . E-mail Gary Davidson.