JAMES Constable is hoping his first Football League hat-trick – and the first ‘proper’ one in Oxford United colours actually counts this time, writes JON MURRAY.

Beano, as he is known, scored three times last season for United against Chester, only for all records against them to be wiped off the record books when Chester folded.

“I’m just pleased the hard work has paid off,” said the striker.

“The first goal, from the corner, was something we've been working on.”

He added that his second one was a striker’s finish and, as for the third, he added: “That’s what Alfie (Potter) is great at, making chances like that so he has to take a lot of credit.”

Manager Chris Wilder was also delighted with the set-piece second goal, and also with Matt Green’s performance.

“It’s been said we don’t score enough goals from set pieces, even though – to some people’s amazement – we do practice them!

“As soon as our third goal went in, it was game set and match really.

“Greeny was back to his best today, being a right thorn and a menace.

“The front three needed to be better than of late and I thought they gave their back four all sorts of trouble.”

Morecambe goalkeeper Barry Roche said: “Quite frankly we were an embarrassment.

“Oxford were sharper, brighter and better than us all over the pitch, we were second to every ball.

“The scoreline in no way flattered Oxford and it could have been more.”