Barnoldswick Town 5 AFC Darwen 1

JOE Gaughan hit a hat-trick to fire Barnoldswick Town to the top of the North West Counties Premier Division with an emphatic 5-1 home win over AFC Darwen on Tuesday night.

Jack Tinning had already had a goal disallowed for offside before Mark Threlfall opened the scoring in the fifth minute.

The striker picked the ball up on the right hand corner of Anthony Windle's penalty area and drilled a shot across him in to the net.

Play was swinging from end to end and Town needed Chris Ridehalgh to block a dangerous Connor Gaul shot.

Threlfall was thwarted by Windle before setting up the second goal with a great ball to Gaughan, who cleverly lifted his shot over Windle to score.

Darwen were dangerous whenever they attacked but Town continued to create the better chances. Tinning beat three men and played Ben Gorman through on goal but he curled his shot wide.

The visitors' hopes of finding a way back in the game were hit when their skipper Kiel Lonsdale was sent off for two yellow cards shown within five minutes of each other for talking out of turn to the referee.

Town went 3-0 in in the 42nd minute when Threlfall beat Windle with a low shot.

It only took Town three minutes in the second half to add a fourth goal. Gaughan was put through down the centre and drilled a shot low into the corner of the net.

Five minutes later and Town were awarded a controversial penalty when it looked like one of their player had handled Gaughan stepped up to score to complete his hat-trick.

Darwen were reduced to nine men when Anthony Hodges was shown a straight red card for foul and abusive language, but they kept battling and were rewarded when the dangerous Gaul scored.

Town continued to dominate possession but they were guilty of being over-elaborate in their build-up play and didn't add to their goal tally in the closing stages.