DARWEN hot shot Paul Baker scored a hat-trick to take his tally to 29 for the season - and make it four NWCL Division Two wins on the trot for his side.

Darwen are quietly sneaking up the table and have been in impressive form of late.

The Anchor Ground side got off to the best of starts on eight minutes when Matt Swailes played in a cross which goalkeeper Paul Eatock called for - and then left - and it hit Baker from three yards out and went into the net.

Around the 20 minute mark, Darwen were 2-0 up when Dennis Hill whipped in a great cross which Baker headed in at the far post.

Darwen could have gone 3-0 up before the break. Baker went for goal instead of passing to the unmarked player-manager Steve Wilkes and Andy Walsh missed two sitters, from three yards and four yards out as both went over.

They did make it three five minutes after the restart when a Walsh free kick was headed home from Denny Khan.

Then Lee Purvis pulled off a stunning save to deny Paul Prescott who hit a fierce shot which the goalkeeper finger-tipped onto the crossbar and out.

Baker celebrated his hat-trick on 80 minutes after Dave Rhodes had leathered in a shot which Eatock could only push out and Baker was first to react.

Then, with the last kick of the game, Ashton got on the scoresheet, Paul Finney running from half way and firing past a static Purvis.

"I was mad about that as I wanted a clean sheet," added Wilkes.

Darwen will be aiming to make it five on the bounce when they travel to Cheadle on Saturday.

"They are a good side but we have 12 games to go so we will see where it takes us."

DARWEN...4 ASHTON...1