CHRIS Lunn struck a hat-trick as 1874 Northwich hammered back-markers Bacup to return to third place in the table.

The striker’s treble was a first for the club in a North West Counties League match on an afternoon when leading scorer Matthew Beadle, on as a second-half substitute, claimed a brace.

Ian Street’s men moved ahead of Colne, held at home by Ashton Athletic, on goal difference as a result.

Lunn, making only his third start, doubled the hosts’ lead after he had earlier teed up skipper Matthew Woolley to open the scoring.

When Mike Brandon’s cross was pushed skywards by goalkeeper Josh Harris, Lunn stretched to prod the ball in from close range on its way down.

Bacup halved their arrears on 37 minutes, when Mike Gervin steered in Matty Bryan’s cut-back after Tom Hendley sent the full back into space down the left with a clipped pass.

1874 scored again early in the second period, Lunn lifting a smart finish over Harris after winning a foot-race to meet Brandon’s lofted assist.

Brandon and debutant Dilan Lomas both went close before Lunn increased his personal tally, this time converting coolly from the penalty spot after Matthew Ward was tripped by ex-Winsford midfielder Davison Banda.

The visitors almost clawed another goal back when Adrian Bellamy’s header from a corner was smuggled off the line by Paul Connor.

However the Bacup skipper had better fortune when he placed a penalty past goalkeeper Matthew Conkie after referee Dominic McDonald spotted a foul.

1874 made the points safe when Beadle reacted quickly to intercept Bellamy’s weak header and guide the ball past Harris.

He was similarly clinical with time running out, sweeping past the Bacup custodian his 24th goal of the campaign.

Substitute Simon Thompson was sent off for dissent as the contest ended sourly for Lancashire outfit.

1874 Conkie (GK), Connor, Lomas, Bayley, Mitchell, Woolley, Stewart, Lunn (Pouncey 75), Brandon (Beadle 66), Ward, Ledwards (Duckworth 85) Subs not used Bowyer, Tulloch Goals Woolley 11, Lunn 32, 47, 66 (penalty) Beadle 76, 85 Booked Stewart, Bayley, Beadle

Bacup Harris (GK), Wager (Thompson 74), Bryan, Banda, Holt, Hendley, Robinson (Ashfaq 18), Birtles, Bellamy, Gervin, Marie Subs not used Morgan, Rahman, Maine Goals Gervin 37, Bellamy 68 (penalty) Booked Wager, Hendley, Banda, Bellamy Sent off Thompson

Referee Dominic McDonald  

Attendance 254

Additional reporting by Garry Clarke