LEWIS Mansell hit a hat-trick as Blackburn Rovers recorded their first victory of the U18s Premier League season with a thumping 4-0 victory at Liverpool on Saturday.

The striker, who was part of the first-team’s pre-season training camp in Portugal, helped himself to a treble after Lewis Hardcastle had opened the scoring for Billy Barr’s side.

Rovers boss Barr said: “Every one of the lads played well.

“We had a game plan and stuck to it, everybody comes out of the game with a lot of credit.

“We went about our work in a very professional way, Liverpool had spells but we defended our goal well for our first clean sheet.

“It was a very pleasing away day.”

Rovers were fast out of the traps and their flying start was rewarded in the third minute after Hardcastle converted a penalty after the lively Tre Pemberton was scythed down in the box.

Pemberton and Hardcastle went close to adding a second before Mansell did just that five minutes before the break when he took a pass from Ramirez Howarth and applied a clinical finish.

Two became three in the 55th minute when Mansell headed home an inswinging corner from Joe Grayson.

And the 17-year-old completed his hat-trick with a minute of normal time to play after Liverpool lost possession, allowing him to race away to score.

Rovers continue their campaign away to Derby County on Saturday (12noon).