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Hythe Town hat-trick hero Frannie Collin says the extended summer break has done him wonders.
Collin has made a super start to the 2020/21 campaign, hitting an injury-time winner against Burgess Hill Town in their Isthmian League opener before bagging three times against Chalfont St Peter in the FA Trophy First Qualifying Round on Saturday.
“The lockdown has done me wonders,” declared the 33-year-old.
“I have never been one for pre-season, I have always hated it, but I was one of those on social media boring the life out of everyone by posting up my 5k times.
“I joined in with it because there was literally nothing else to do! I started enjoying it.
“It’s probably as good a shape as I have been in years, thanks to lockdown. When I came in pre-season, rather than using it to get fit, I was almost already fit.
“After such a long lay-off it has helped. You normally get five or six weeks off and then you are back going again. This year, after having a long break, I have felt a lot fresher. I think it has helped me out a bit.”
Hythe played Nathan Harvey in goal on Saturday, the young goalkeeper joining on loan from Charlton Athletic, covering for Patrick Lee, who was unavailable.
Collin (pictured) took just eight minutes to get off the mark, heading in a corner from Darren Oldaker. Harvey showed his quality with a double save to keep the lead intact.
A strike from the edge of the box found the top corner as Collin made it two before the break and his third goal came on 77 minutes.
Collin was playing upfront in the second half, after Tom Walmsley was withdrawn with injury, rather than his now more familiar role as part of a three-man unit in support of the striker.
He’s been enjoying that deeper role; another reason he’s been feeling so fresh.
“It’s nice that I still know where the goal is,” he joked.
“The manager is doing me a favour. Playing in a three in midfield with two in behind you, you do recognise when you then go up top on your own how much harder work it is, having to occupy the back four on your own. I didn’t thank Tom or Watty (the manager) for making me go up there second half!
“The gaffer knows my game inside out. The role allows me to get on the ball more and still get in goal scoring opportunities and it allows me to save my legs a bit more.
“I think nowadays even when you watch football at the highest level, it is all about pressing from the front. It is all about pace and counter attacking. It is not easy for someone in their mid-20s playing in the number nine role, let alone someone like myself.
“It does help me having a couple of players around me and we have pace in the forward areas infront of me, I am still getting opportunities and it is just easier on the legs.”
Hythe will now be hoping to make it three wins on the spin when they face Phoenix Sports at home in the league on Saturday.
It’s certainly been a refreshing change as Collin remembers how tough last season’s first few games were. They had lost their opener 7-2 to Burgess Hill last August.
Steve Watt came in as Hythe manager a month into last season.
Collin said: “When Watty came in the main thing was just to stop losing games, we were losing by stupid margins and conceding a silly amount of goals. We went a lot more defensive last year.
“I played a similar role but we were set up to stop teams scoring against us rather than worrying too much about the other way.
“This summer he’s made more of an emphasis on being more expressive, to go out and play more on the front foot and score more goal. We have scored three in each of the last two games and so it is paying off.”
He might be fresh, but Collin admits his stoppage-time winner a fortnight ago reminded him he has limits.
He said: “I made a run from the halfway line to get into the box and got on the end of the cross but I was absolutely gone after that! It took me about 10 minutes to get back to the halfway line and I came off 30 seconds later.
“It’s always good though when you get a last-minute winner but it’s important as we had such a bad start to the season last year. We were playing catch up, so to get off to a win and against Burgess Hill who are a good side was good for us.”
