Joe Lolley has been in and around the goals of late and after three on Wednesday night against the Glory, he moves to the top of the Isuzu UTE A-League scoring charts.
The last time that he scored a hat-trick in a match, he was only 21 and was applying his trade in the English National League with Kidderminster Harriers.
Now in Australia, he is in some vein of form and as per his personality though, he always downplays the talent that he has.
“It’s been a long time coming to be honest but when you score a couple of goals the confidence comes and everything starts to fall for you.
“I feel good and I feel confident on the pitch, feel good in my body and hopefully this keeps continuing,” Lolley said.
“The main thing is staying fit and and I feel like everything else takes care of itself on the pitch and I always feel most confident when I’m playing football.”
Lolley has played hundreds of matches in the English football pyramid throughout his time with Nottingham Forest and Huddersfield and Wednesday’s backdrop provided the best conditions for him to excel.
A slick pitch and persistent rain took away the usual warm temperatures of the Australian summer and you shouldn’t be surprised that the Englishman came alive.
“When the weather is like that and it’s raining with the air a bit cooler, I think it helps the football.
“In the summer we are so used to hot and humid days so with a slick pitch you have no one to blame and nothing to feel tired for,” he added.
“These conditions are certainly good for me and for us.”
Fans can often criticise foreign players for coming to the Isuzu UTE A-League for a holiday but that is certainly not the case for Lolley who took home the Sydney FC Player of the Year last year alongside the Alex Tobin Medal for the league’s best player.
The 32 year old netted his first hat-trick since a National League game with Kidderminster Harriers against the now defunct Salisbury City in January 2014 and he revealed that his current form is aided by some special guests who were in the stand.
“Tonight I had my Dad in the crowd who I haven’t seen in 18 months along with a good friend too and when they do come you always want to try and perform for them and it always gives you a nice boost.
“I don’t set myself any targets each season in terms of goals or assists, I believe they all just happen but I want to win trophies here and I want to have great memories with the team because for me, there truly is nothing better than that,” he concluded.
Lolley will look to back up his goal scoring form when the Mariners visit on Saturday evening at Allianz Stadium.
