Mansfield Town v Halifax Town, 09 September 2000

Halifax-born Chris Greenacre ended Mansfield Town's long run without a win with the first hat-trick of his career. It also sent Halifax Town to the bottom of the Football League to hasten the sacking of boss Mark Lillis. The Stags had actually only lost one of their five previous 2000/01 League games, and had the extra confidence of an excellent 3-0 Worthington Cup win at Second Division Wrexham in midweek. Mansfield soon set the ball rolling when Mark Blake rose at the far post to head in off the underside of the bar. Greenacre then got his show on the road when he took advantage of some woeful defending. The Shaymen pulled on back totally against the run of play. Ian Fitzpatrick knocked in Steve Kerrigan's cross-shot for his first senior goal. Having regained their composure, Billy Dearden's charges took the visitors to task in the last twenty minutes after Greenacre had added his second. The former Manchester City raider turned provider to set up Lee Williams for number four before completing his threesome - the first Stag hat-trick since September of last year - despite a fine double save from Lee Butler. It left Greenacre as the Third Division's top scorer on six goals.