Burscough 0 Darlington 7

Stephen Thompson was the star of the show with a first-half hat-trick as Darlington went on the rampage with a 7-0 win at Burscough.

Quakers’ sixth successive win saw them start positively and there was no let up from the off with the magnificent scoreline accurately reflecting Quakers’ display.

They were 4-0 up by the break with Amar Purewal opening the scoring via a back-post header after meeting Terry Galbraith's corner.

Then play-maker Thompson came to the fore, scoring the first of his goals direct from a 25-yard free-kick after he had been rashly fouled by Burscough defender Joe Camozzi.

Thompson’s most eye-catching strike was a 22-yard volley after taking a pass from the left by David Dowson under control with an immaculate touch and then turning to blast the ball home to make it 3-0.

Just before half-time he hammered home his 16th goal of the season when the hardworking Dowson pulled the ball back.

Alan White added two headers in the second half, both after corners. The first was partially cleared, but substitute Dale Hopson sent the ball back into the penalty area where White headed in at close-range.

Purewal added the sixth inside the penalty area when a defender made a hash of intercepting a cross, and White completed the rout when he headed home despite a defender almost stopping the effort on the line.

Because of results elsewhere, Quakers remain fourth ahead the Boxing Day home game with Wakefield.

Goals: Purewal (18, 0-1), Thompson (28, 0-2), Thompson (38, 0-3), Thompson (45, 0-4), White (63, 0-5), Purewal (76, 0-6), White (86, 0-7)

Bookings: Camozzi (27, foul), Toner (83, foul); White (84, dissent)

Referee: James Wilson

Attendance: 319

Burscough: Horn, Clarke, Short, Camozzi, Duff, Brookfield, Roberts (Brown 14), Toner, Beesley, Caddick, Williams. Subs: Dykes, Robinson, Quirk, McLaughlin

Darlington: Bell; Harrison, White, Hunter, Galbraith (Hopson 46); Robinson, Scott, Davis; Thompson (Mitchell 68); Purewal, Dowson (Fisher 46). Subs (not used): Jameson (gk), Coatsworth