Marc Smith scored his first-ever hat-trick for Harrogate Town on Saturday as Neil Aspin's men hammered Nationwide North relegation favourites Ashton United 5-1.

Smith netted his treble in the last half hour of the match as Town took the ten-man visitors apart in the second half.

He headed in his first and Town's second in the 60th minute from a Lee Philpott cross.

Stand-in manager Philpott - taking the reins with Aspin away on a prior engagement - then linked up with substitute James Turley for Smith to slide in a second, before an 88th-minute third condemned Ashton to another heavy defeat.

Lee Morris had put Town in front before half-time only for Town to once again get caught napping from a quick throw-in shortly after the restart for Paul Garvey to equalise.

Former York City striker Turley, who had come on for Mark Haran after he had suffered an elbow to the face which brought a red card for Martin Allison, also got on the scoresheet after being released by a through ball from Dominic Krief.

Goole moved up to second in the Northern Counties East League premier division thanks to two goals in three minutes against Glapwell.

Joe Gaughan hit the target from the penalty spot on 69 minutes and Ben Eastwood made it two shortly after, as Goole took advantage of a weather-hit Saturday which saw three of the top five teams out of action.

Leaders Selby Town were one of those five as their match at bottom-club Borrowash Victoria was called off, while Harrogate Railway were also left kicking their heels at Long Eaton United after a postponement.

Pickering Town in fifth place thus had a great chance to make ground on the leaders but slipped up at home to lowly Arnold Town after being shocked by two strikes.

Selby Town and Goole are due to go head-to-head in a massive league derby tomorrow night, with Pickering Town at home to Glasshoughton Welfare (both kick-offs are 7.45pm).

Tadcaster Albion lost their admirable record against Gedling Town this season - and ground on the top four in division one - in a 2-1 home defeat.

The Brewers had been unbeaten against Gedling in three league and cup encounters so far this term but failed to make it count this time to leave them four points behind their rivals.

Updated: 10:35 Monday, February 14, 2005