Fuller LONDON, CMC:
JAMAICA REGGAE Boy Ricardo Fuller scored a hat-trick to give Preston North End a satisfying 5-3 victory over Burnley in an all-Lancashire derby at Deepdale in the English Division One championship yesterday.
There was also a goal for fellow Reggae Boy Darren Byfield in Rotherham's 2-0 win over Bradford at the Bradford & Bingley Stadium.
PNE were rewarded for their early stamp of authority when Fuller picked the ball up on the left after a spectacular pass from Nigerian Dickson Etuhu and ran half the length of the pitch to boot home in the 18th minute, but Ian Moore scored his third goal in four matches when he equalised six minutes later for Burnley.
After soaking the pressure for the remainder of the first half, American Eddie Lewis restored the lead for PNE after Fuller cut the ball across his path after one hour, only to see Arthur Gnohere again showcased Burnley's powers of recovery four minutes later.
There was end-to-end action with both teams having their chance, but Fuller put PNE ahead once more when he blasted home the perfect ball from David Healy in the 71st minute, again for the lead to be wiped out within seven minutes by Robbie Blake, who scored from the penalty spot five minutes after being brought on by Marlon Broomes.
Seconds later, a ball from Pawel Abbott put Fuller clear and he completed his hat-trick, but this time the mountain was too much for Burnley to clear.
Healy finished them off with a goal of his own in the 90th minute after Fuller set him free down the right. Byfield's and John Mullin's form have been crucial in Rotherham's seven-match unbeaten run and they scored one goal apiece against a Bradford side desperately low on confidence.
Byfield netted a 16th-minute penalty after Martin Butler had been fouled in the area and Mullin tallied from a 20-yard free kick at the death as Bradford, coached by former England star Bryan Robson, continued to struggle in Division 1.
