MARK Height starred as Blackrod Town hammered relegation rivals BAE Barrow.

Blackrod went into the game third from bottom, just one place above their visitors.

Blackrod showed signs of their recent revival from the start as Height struck a superb hat-trick inside the opening 25 minutes to put the home side in total control.

Bae responded when Scott Ellis drove a powerful free kick high into the Blackrod goal. It was 4-1 when Sam Cardwell was quickest to respond after a Height free kick rebounded off the post. Ellis scored a penalty to make it 4-2 at half time.

On 50 minutes Height scored his fourth, lobbing the ball over the Bae keeper. Then Cardwell scored his second to make it 6-2, before an own goal followed by a Gary Barnes effort wrapped up a wonderful 8-2 victory.

Height's day turned sour when he was the victim of some rough treatment which caused him to be carried off after 70 minutes and taken to hospital for treatment.

Despite the first team claiming five of their players on the holiday weekend, Blackrod Reserves' youngsters defeated Norcross and Warbreck 2-1. Daniel Anderton and Carl McKnight were Blackrod's scorers.