Barnton 4 Middlewich 0

DAVID Dale blasted a half hour hat-trick as Barnton trounced Middlewich to stay 11 points clear at the top of the table.

He scored twice before the break and added a third in the second period as the hosts moved closer to another Mid Cheshire title.

Although Dale's prowess in front of goal sealed the points, Barnton's win was thanks to a great team performance.

On a heavy pitch, they played some neat football built on a solid defence which kept its 10th clean sheet in 11 home games.

Dale is in red hot form at the moment. He scored both goals in Barnton's 2-1 win at Whitchurch last week and needed just 32 minutes to open his account against Middlewich.

He capitalised on a defensive error, nipping in to smash the ball home after Paul Hennin flicked on Mark Emerson's floated free kick.

Dale got his second 11 minutes later, shooting the ball across the keeper and in at the far post after good build up play by Dave Murray and Stuart Fraser on the left.

And he completed his hat trick 17 minutes after the break, running on to Hennin's flick and clipping the ball over the advancing keeper with great composure.

Dale turned provider for Barnton's fourth, 10 minutes from time. He directed John Hawley's long ball towards Hennin who shot home.

Things are looking grim for Lostock Gralam at the opposite end of the table.

They were beaten 9-2 at Rylands on Saturday and remain a point adrift at the bottom.

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