Ivy Hotel's hat-trick hero Lee Rigby was reported missing before the game kicked off.

But manager Carl Scott must have thought half his team had gone AWOL after a dismal opening 45 minutes.

It took a once over from a police officer to check on Rigby's whereabouts and a half time rollicking from Scotty to his missing-in-action league leaders to get them to come out of hiding.

Until then, it was Riley's who were playing the better football with the brawn of Wayne Ross and the skill of Liam Lacey out-muscling and out-witting Ivy Hotel in the midfield battle.

Ivy got a dream start when Gaz Parker and Gino Debiase combined to release Rigby who raced clear to toe poke the ball beyond keeper Craig Jenal.

But what should have been a platform for Ivy to build upon collapsed and it was Rileys who played the more inventive football.

Ian Bradbury, the impressive Lacey and Steve Nutt all tested Kevin Rigby in the Ivy goal before Rileys grabbed a deserved equaliser when Nutt squeezed a shot in at the near post.

Ivy then had Rigby to thank for keeping out another fine effort from Lacey before the half time whistle came as a welcome relief.

But Scotty's wake-up call -- and the introduction of Brian Brown and Steve Almond -- certainly did the trick as Ivy regained the lead a minute after the restart.

Rigby showed his blistering pace to out manoeuvre Ryan Martin to cooly slot the ball beyond Jenal. The striker was up for it now and his run and crossed presented Anthony Perry with a goal scoring chance but the midfield man scuffed his shot.

Rigby then turned provider when he cleverly swept the ball out to Lee Smith who timed his run to perfection to race clear to score.

And three minutes later it was 4-1 when Perry flicked on Brown's corner and Rigby completed his hat-trick when he volleyed high in to the net from close range.

However, Riley's made sure it was never going to be plain sailing for Ivy Hotel and after Ben McMillan had a shot charge down, Lacey swept home a wonderful volley from outside the area.

Ivy responded when the inventive Steve Almond released Rigby but he fired straight at sub keeper Elliot Quinn on for the injured Jenal.

Rigby then showed there is more to his game than scoring when he outwitted three Rileys defenders to whip in a cross that Smith swept home at the far post.

The last time the sides met Ivy won 5-4 on the opening day of the season and it appeared a repeat could be on the cards when Rileys pulled it back to 5-3 when Nathan Walton fired home at the second attempt.

But Ivy were spared a nervy final 15 minutes thanks to an instant reply from Smith who scampered clear from the halfway line to complete his own impressive hat-trick.

Ivy were then denied a seventh goal when Perry powered in to the box and forced a flying save out of Quinn. But in the end it didn't matter because the damage was already done -- and it was Rigby who wreaked it.

How Rileys must have wished he had gone missing!

BLACKBURN COMBINATION DIVISION TWO

Ivy Hotel...6

Rileys...3

IVY HOTEL

MANAGER: CARL SCOTT

Kevin Rigby (keeper) Made some vital first half saves to keep side in contention...7

Matt Smith (right back) Defended well and liked to get forward...7

Gary Parker (left back) Impressive display at the back and helped set up opening goal...7

Vic Booth (centre back) Kept attackers at bay by fair means or foul...7

Ian Almond (centre back) Bossed the back line. Cool and calculated...7

Lee Smith (right midfield) Supported the attackers well and scored a cracking hat-trick...8

Gino Debiase (left midfield) Played in fits and starts and faded in and out of the game...6

Tony Braysford (centre midfield) Didn't get his foot on the ball enough and was subbed at the break...6

Anthony Perry (centre midfield) Sloppy first half but was excellent after the break...7

Gerald Bell (striker) Did not get much service and was unlucky to be subbed at the break...6

HLee Rigby (striker) Scored a great hat-trick and set up two. Defenders could not live with his pace and skill...9

Subs:

Steve Almond (striker) Intelligent play up front gave Ivy another option...7

Brian Brown (midfield) Added some much needed steel to midfield and ran the show...8

Alan Taylor (defence) Did well when he came on...7

RILEYS

MANAGER: PETER QUINN

Craig Jenal (keeper) Injured and went off in the first half...6

Ian Bradbury (right back) Under pressure but stuck to his task...6

Gary Stevenson (left back) The voice at the back and had plenty to shout about...6

Ryan Martin (centre back) Did a decent job but went off injured...6

Ross Henderson (centre back) Tough job marking Rigby but played well...7

Nathan Walton (right midfield) Scored opportunist goal to keep side in the hunt...7

Adam Langstrath (left midfield) Decent enough game out on the flank...6

HLiam Lacey (centre midfield) Wonderful volleyed goal rounded off an impressive display...8

Wayne Ross (centre midfield) Energetic display in the middle of the park. Never gave up the fight...7

Ben McMillan (centre midfield) Show a great touch and awareness and was more effective when he dropped in to midfield...8

Steve Nutt (striker) Squeezed home a first half equaliser but did not see enough of the ball...6

Subs:

Elliot Quinn (keeper) Made some good saves when he came on...6

Lee Pilling (midfield) Added a bit of pace out wide...6

Chris Grimmer (midfield) No chance to make an impression