Penryn’s very own Cody Cooke scored his first hat-trick in professional football at the weekend.

St Mirren striker Cooke scored three second-half goals in his side’s crucial Scottish Premiership match at bottom club Dundee, with the visitors requiring something from the game to have hope of avoiding a relegation play-off.

Despite having scored just one goal all season prior to Saturday, Cooke scored a blistering second-half hat-trick to turn the match on its head and rescue victory for the Saints.

Things looked bleak for the visitors when Cameron Kerr put the already-relegated hosts in front early on, with the score unchanged at the interval.

Caretaker boss Oran Kearney turned to former Penryn College pupil Cooke at the start of the second half and he made a quick impact, levelling the match just six minutes later when he nodded home at the back post.

He was at it again just seven minutes later when he took advantage of a poor clearance to fire home and put the Saints ahead.

Scott Wright hauled Dundee level in the 74th minute but Cooke was on hand to score the winning goal and complete his hat-trick just two minutes later.

His heroics were in vain, however, with Cody’s side finishing 11th after relegation rivals Hamilton won their match as well. St Mirren will now face a two-legged relegation play-off against Dundee United, which they must win to preserve their Scottish Premiership status.

They will face Dundee United at their Tannadice ground in the first leg on Thursday at 7.45pm, before welcoming United to St Mirren Park for the second leg next Sunday, May 26 at 3pm.

Both legs will be shown live on BT Sport.

Cooke signed for St Mirren in July by then manager Alan Stubbs after impressing in the V9 Academy in June, which was set up by Leicester City and England striker Jamie Vardy in order to give promising non-league footballers a chance at winning a professional football contract.

Cooke joined the Saints from Truro City, where he enjoyed a highly successful seven-year spell.