MIKE Brandon scored a hat-trick as Middlewich got better and better.

He put them ahead after 20 minutes before John Edwards scored a fine solo goal to put Middlewich in command by the break, though in truth, the score flattered them.

Brandon increased the lead after the restart before a rare mistake by goal-keeper Kevin Whitehead let Lino on to the scoresheet. Edwards restored the three-goal buffer, a screamer trimmed it again only for Brandon to break away from the half-way line to complete the scoring.

Daten 0 Barnton 1 Barnton moved into the top half of the table for the first time this season, thanks to a late goal by Dave Tasker.

Daten protested that Tasker had beaten a centre back in a race to a long ball only by knocking him out of the way. 'He was simply stronger and it was fair,' said new Barnton boss Mark Came.

Came, who is assisted by former Middlewich Reserves boss Steve Moore and Mike Allen, added: 'You can sense there's a bit of grit and spirit in the team now.' Witton Albion Res 3 Styal 1: Watched by a larger crowd than normal, Albion completed the league double against the team that had knocked them out of the County Cup three months previously.

A Rick Bailey corner that Danny Jarrett flicked to the far post was converted by Will Hurley, to put Witton ahead.

Both sides went close to scoring before Albion increased their lead on 52 minutes, Andy Hurst's persistence and full-back setting up Bailey.

Styal replied through Thornton's 25-yard rasper which went in off the bar, but Mike Cartner swept in a Bailey through ball to settle the issue.

Former first teamer Gary Furnival played his first football since breaking a leg in the spring and Ryan Barhill, from Knutsford, made his debut.

LOSTOCK GRALAM went down 4-3 at Malpas in Division Two and there were defeats in the Reserves Division for MIDDLEWICH (3-1 at Golborne) and WITTON YOUTH (2-0 at Lino-Cheadle).

Saturday: Division One Cup - Daten v Middlewich; President's Cup - Barnton v Warrington Res, Golborne Res v Middlewich Res, Monk v Lostock Gralam; Reserves Division Cup - Witton Youth v Eagle.