Scott Tonkin – Six of the Best
Wentworth Park in Ultimo is an iconic football venue, going down in the annals of Australian football history as the site of many great football events over the years, including battles between famous clubs and players alike.
Sunday, May 8, 2016 can now be added to the list of dates when something memorable occurred at the historic ground.
The Round Six fixture in the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s competition ended with Sydney University defeating Balmain Tigers by 6-0, with Sydney University striker, Scott Tonkin, remarkably managing to score all six goals in a ruthless display of clinical finishing.
A double hat trick is unique enough when it comes to personal achievements, but to score six goals against your former club, having just transferred in the previous off-season, made it just that little bit more memorable.
Football NSW caught up with Tonkin recently to ask him about his achievement, and asked him a few questions, including whether he ate anything different for breakfast on the day, how it felt when the balls started going in, and which was his favourite goal.
FNSW – What did you do that day in terms of preparation – did you eat something different for breakfast, did you warm up differently?
Scott Tonkin – “The game was actually played on Mothers’ Day so the pre-game preparation involved a late breakfast with the family. It was a different breakfast from the usual toast or cereal on a Sunday morning, so maybe the outcome had something to do with the “athletes’ breakfast” of bacon and eggs.
In regards to the pre-game preparation, the squad really just wanted to treat the game as we would any other, despite the fact that the game meant something special to many of the team (a few players had transferred from Balmain in the off season). I carpooled with a few local boys as we always do, we warmed up the way we do every week and our dressing room preparation was unchanged, so it didn’t really feel like anything special was going to happen.”
FNSW – How did it feel on the day as the balls starting to go in one after the other – did you feel it was a special day unfolding?
ST – “I would have been happy with one goal let alone scoring six, and I certainly did not expect the balls to keep coming to me in front of goals. I think it felt like something special was going to happen after the third goal. Scoring a hat trick is great in any game, but I just kept playing, and it all dawned on me as soon as the full time whistle blew.”
FNSW – Which was your favourite goal?
ST – “It is difficult to choose between the first and the second goal. Both were great team goals which involved the boys working the ball from the back, through the midfield and eventually ended up at my feet in front of goals. The first probably did have a greater significance as it got the team onto the scoreboard and created a momentum for us to work with.”
FNSW – Six goals suggests you had one of those great days – did you actually miss any shots/efforts that day?
ST – “From memory, I had half a chance whilst the score was still locked at 0-0. I got my head on the end of a Gavin Wenyon free kick and the ball just trickled wide of the post. We also had a few other chances whilst the score was locked but once we scored the first, our finishing and distribution in the final third was almost spot on.”
FNSW – Is there anyone you would like to thank for helping you that day?
ST – “Definitely a big thank you to all the boys for their support and unselfishness on the day. I wouldn’t have been able to get even one of the goals without them, especially the boys in attack; Rosario Occhipinti, Dom Di Mento, Johnny Gowdy and Will Donato, who each provided some very unselfish assists on the day.
Thanks also to the coaches, Brian Dene and John Haynes, who provided us with great preparation, both mentally and physically, in the lead up to the game, as well as some great encouragement and positivity on the day.”
FNSW – How did it feel scoring so many goals against Balmain specifically, given they were your previous club?
ST – “I think from a team perspective, there was that little bit of rivalry with a few of us having been ex-Balmain players. We had previously played Balmain in a pre-season trial game and were beaten 4–2, so we were desperate to finish with a win.
Personally, I just wanted to come away with the three points like I always do. I still have a lot of respect for Balmain as a club after two successful years there, so I made sure to show them the respect they deserved, both during and after the game.”
FNSW – Your father, John, is a football tragic who would remember the good old days of football at Wentworth Park – how did he and your family react to your efforts?
ST – “My dad said that he enjoyed this day better than any Pan Hellenic versus Western Suburbs derby of yesteryear held at Wentworth Park. The family were all very proud – more so my mother, because over the past 20 years I’ve always tried to score goals for my mum around Mothers’ Day but never managed it. I must’ve been saving them up for 2016 because she received an avalanche of them this year!
My girlfriend, Megan, comes from an AFL family, so scoring 6 points in one game is no big feat in her eyes…. very hard to please! No, but in all seriousness, she was also very proud of the goals and the end result.”
FNSW – What are your goals – your own and your team’s – for the remainder of the season?
ST – “For myself, I have recently returned from a four-week trip around South America so, having missed a few matches, I am slowly trying to work my way back and into the same form and fitness I had pre-holiday. (FNSW – Scott has since found his scoring boots again, up to 15 goals for the season and counting, sitting 4th in the top goalscorers’ charts)
As a squad, we are concentrating on keeping our position in the top five and competing in the finals series. We have had a few tough weeks over the last couple of months with a number of players being either overseas or called away with other commitments. However, we are close to having a full strength squad back on deck and are hoping for a strong last leg home to the finals.
In regards to the club, we have all three grades in the hunt for a final series so it will definitely be an exciting few weeks to come for “the students”. As Sydney University FC only joined this division for the 2016 season, their aim (like most of the clubs in the competition) is to finish well up the club championship this year and eventually push back up to the NSW NPL2 competition over future years.”
FNSW – Thank you for time Scott, congratulations on a wonderful achievement, and all the very best for the remainder of 2016 and beyond.
ST – “My pleasure, thanks.”
Let’s take a brief look at the SIX goals and how they eventuated;
GOAL 1 – The opening goal arrived on 20 minutes starting with a passing movement from defence, the ball moving down the left flank, where Johnny Gowdy brought it inside and played it to Adrian Porcu. He played Domenic Di Mento in to space before Di Mento squared for Tonkin to tap in from a few yards.
GOAL 2 – The second goal arrived on the hour mark, with another great passing movement, this time down the right wing. Di Mento got to the line then cut it back for Rosario Occhipinti, who had the presence of mind to tee up Tonkin just inside the box. Tonkin took one touch around a defender and hit a left foot strike that whistled into the bottom right corner.
GOAL 3 – Tonkin’s hat-trick arrived moments later when a ball from a corner came out to Johnny Gowdy on the edge of the box, and his low shot diverted off Tonkin, sending Jamieson, the Balmain goalkeeper, the wrong way.
GOAL 4 – Domenic Di Mento had a mortgage on the right wing all day, setting up goal number four on 72 minutes. Picking up a long punt from Sydney Uni’s goal keeper, Dan Conway, Di Mento reached the goal line before crossing to the far post, where Tonkin slid to divert the ball just inside the upright, making it 4-0.
GOAL 5 – It became 5-0 with about ten minutes remaining. After Balmain had half cleared a Will Donato cross to Tonkin on the edge of the penalty area, the striker took a touch around a defender and blasted a left foot rifle in to the roof of the net.
GOAL 6 – Sydney University and Scott Tonkin brought up an even half dozen with minutes to spare. Domenic Di Mento once again got around his man and reached the goal line, and with Occhipinti making a run to the near post to attract defenders, Di Mento cut the ball back for Tonkin, who slammed it home from around the penalty spot to finish off the day’s proceedings.
