BACUP starlet Haydn Paul has been crowned Vodkat League Premier Division player of the month for March – but couldn’t celebrate by hitting the net in a seven-goal romp.

The 19-year-old, who has caught the eye this season and hit 13 goals, beat the competition to claim the monthly prize – and picked up the silverware ahead of the West View clash with St Helens Town.

Bacup went on to crush the visitors 7-1 – but instead of Paul capturing the headlines, it was strike star Tommy Turner and defender Adrian Bellamy who stole the show with hat-tricks.

“For a player who has just turned 19 years of age, Haydn has been showing goal scoring form and maturity beyond his years,” said Peters. “This award is a reward for his progression.

“Many players need time to pick up the pace of the game, but Haydn can be effective right from his introduction.”

Peters has also praised the efforts of Rossendale United, who impressed him more than his own Bacup boys when they clashed last Thursday.

Bacup won 2-1 – but Peters said: “Those lads in the main are not Valley lads, yet they gave their all for the club not only to get something out of just this game but to save their club’s status on the run-in until the end of the season, it just proves all those cynics wrong when they talk about a team of local lads who will have big hearts and play for nothing.

“From my experience, I doubt a team of local lads would give any more than these lads are giving at the moment for a club they have adopted, credit to everyone of them for that, on the balance of play in this game a draw would have been the correct score.”