Qualified maths teacher Tom Meechan got his sums right for Merthyr Town when he netted four goals in a 6-2 win against Staines Town.
The former University of Birmingham sports and exercise science student has played football for Newport County, Hungerford Town, St Ives Town and St Neots Town, while he netted 53 goals for Thurlow Nunn League Godmanchester Rovers in 2014-15.
After finishing his degree, he did a conversion course to become a high school maths teacher in Cambridgeshire.
The 27-year-old Meechan, born in Cambridge, has scored well over 100 league goals during his career and will play a major role in Merthyr’s bid to challenge for a play-offs finish in 2018-19.
Meechan’s first two goals came during the open 15 minutes and Craig McDonnell added a third for the visitors midway through the first half. It was Meechan who set up the goal for McDonnell.
Staines hit back through Thomas Gogo (27) and Andy Ali (79) and at 3-2 the home team felt they had a chance, but the Martyrs quickly killed off their hopes.
Meechan completed his hat-trick less than a minute after Ali’s strike and substitute Ian Traylor netted from a Jarrad Wright pass (83).
It was Meechan who competed the scoring three minutes into injury time, capping an outstanding personal performance in which he worked hard, produced a lot of quality and finished clinically.
Goalkeeper Joe Perry made an outstanding save to deny Staines when the scored was 3-1, but there was no question the Martyrs were good value for their win.
Staines Town: Louis Dixon Lewis Lavender, Makhosini Khanye, George Pilbeam, Gradi Milenge, Davis Cofie, Ruudi Clarke, Harry Agombar, Andy Ali, George Barker (capt), Thomas Gogo. Subs: Ciaron Gordon-Stearn, Ryan Handelaar, Marley Hamilton, Mohammed Hashimi.
Merthyr Town: Joe Perry, Adam Davies, Craig McDonnell, Kyle Patten, Connor Young, Kieran Lewis, Matthew Harris, Ashley Evans, Corey Jenkins, Tom Meechan, Kerry Morgan. Subs: Joe Hunt, Jarrad Wright, Lee Lucas, Ryan Prosser, Ian Traylor.
Referee: Sukhvir (Sunny) Gill.
Attendance: 258
LEAGUE TABLE: EVO-STIK LEAGUE SOUTH PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH – 2018/2019
| Club | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | -Pts | Pts | |
 |
Weymouth | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 27 | 12 | 15 | – | 21 |
 |
Hendon | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 19 | 11 | 8 | – | 20 |
 |
Merthyr Town | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 23 | 13 | 10 | – | 18 |
 |
Tiverton Town | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 21 | 11 | 10 | – | 18 |
 |
Taunton Town | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 21 | 12 | 9 | – | 17 |
 |
Hartley Wintney | 11 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 24 | 20 | 4 | – | 17 |
 |
Poole Town | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 10 | 8 | – | 16 |
 |
Salisbury | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 21 | 14 | 7 | – | 15 |
 |
Harrow Borough | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 25 | 19 | 6 | – | 15 |
 |
Basingstoke Town | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 21 | 20 | 1 | – | 15 |
 |
Metropolitan Police | 9 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 19 | 19 | 0 | – | 13 |
 |
Beaconsfield Town | 9 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 14 | 0 | – | 13 |
 |
Farnborough | 9 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 16 | 18 | -2 | – | 13 |
 |
Gosport Borough | 10 | 4 | – | 6 | 19 | 23 | -4 | – | 12 |
 |
Walton Casuals | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 17 | 23 | -6 | – | 12 |
 |
Dorchester Town | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 21 | -8 | – | 12 |
 |
Frome Town | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 14 | 20 | -6 | – | 10 |
 |
Kings Langley | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 14 | 22 | -8 | – | 8 |
 |
Wimborne Town | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 16 | 20 | -4 | – | 7 |
 |
Swindon Supermarine | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 14 | -3 | – | 6 |
 |
Staines Town | 10 | 2 | – | 8 | 14 | 29 | -15 | – | 6 |
 |
Chesham United | 10 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 26 | -22 | – | 4 |
Merthyr Town fixtures coming up
Tuesday 16 Salisbury (away)
Saturday 20 Beaconsfield Town (home)
Saturday 27 Buildbase FA Trophy first qualifying round
November
Saturday 3 Dorchester Town (away)
Wednesday 7 League Cup second round
Saturday 10 Wimborne Town (home)
Tuesday 13 Poole Town (home)
Saturday 17 Basingstoke Town (away)
Tuesday 20 Tiverton Town (home)
Saturday 24 Weymouth (home)