It was a memorable full home debut for Northern Ireland striker Ronan Hale as he scored both goals in Gillingham’s 2-1 win over Tranmere Rovers in League Two at the weekend.
It had been an emotional week for the former Irish League player following the passing of his grandfather, Danny Hale, who was himself a prolific striker for Crusaders, Dundalk and Derry City back in the 1960s.
“I thought it was a great win today,” he told the Gillingham website. “The first goal was pure instinct, I just timed my run and finished it, and the second one just hit off the side of my head, I pushed away from the keeper and just flicked it.
“I’ve had a tough week with my grandfather passing away a couple of days ago. Those two goals were for him.
“When I was back home he used to follow me up and down the country, and he was my hero, too. So to score two goals two days after it happened, he was definitely watching down on me. He would’ve been buzzing.”
In League One Northampton Town’s loanee defender Michael Forbes was also on the scoresheet in his side’s 3-1 win at home to Stevenage, whose consolation goal was scored by Jamie Reid, his ninth of the season.
Meanwhile, in the Premier League, it was a tough day for Sunderland duo Trai Hume and Daniel Ballard as The Black Cats lost 3-0 at the Emirates to Arsenal, who are now six points clear at the top of the table.
In the Championship Paddy McNair made his first appearance for Hull City following his move from San Diego FC. He played 76 minutes for the Tigers, whose automatic promotion hopes received a blow in a 3-2 defeat at home to Bristol City.
There were also starts in England’s second tier for Ruairi McConville (Norwich City), Ciaron Brown and Jamie McDonnell (both Oxford United), Ali McCann (Preston North End), Isaac Price (WBA), Ethan Galbraith (Swansea City), Paul Smyth (QPR) and the ever-improving Terry Devlin (Portsmouth).
Former Cliftonville midfielder Shea Kearney provided an assist for Dunfermline Athletic’s second goal in their 2-0 Scottish Cup fifth round win at home to Kelty Hearts, while goalkeeper Josh Clarke was between the sticks for Partick Thistle’s 3-2 victory at Elgin City.
They will be joined in the last eight of the competition by Conor McMenamin and Liam Donnelly, who were both used as substitutes in St Mirren's 2-1 extra time success at Championship outfit Airdrieonians.
In Women’s Super League 2 Ellie Mason came on as a substitute in Charlton Athletic’s 2-0 victory at Nottingham Forest. It was her first appearance for the club since September.
Goalkeeper Jackie Burns, who last week ended her Canadian adventure with Calgary Wild to join Bristol City until the end of the season, remained on the bench in the Robins' 2-1 defeat at Crystal Palace.
Fellow Northern Ireland internationals Caragh Hamilton, who has joined Sunderland on loan from Nottingham Forest, and Casey Howe, who has made a similar move to Wolves from Forest, will have to wait for their debuts after their respective games were postponed.
Finally, Under-19 international Reece Evans bagged a hat-trick for Reading in their 3-0 U21 Premier League victory over Stoke City, and winger Cole Brannigan scored his second of the season for Aston Villa U21s who lost 4-3 at home to Newcastle United.
