Chorley 6 Tamworth 0

JOSH Hine was Chorley’s hat-trick hero as the Magpies delighted a bumper crowd of 1,392 by demolishing fellow promotion-chasers Tamworth and surging ahead of their opponents into fourth in the Conference North table.

It really was a case of ‘Lambs’ to the slaughter as the Midlanders reflected their nickname in a meek surrender to a second-half powerhouse show by the home side.

Hine’s treble settled the match just after the hour but the goal-hungry Magpies gave their goal-difference a timely boost by running in three more goals.

James Dean was the provider for both opening goals, the first a real classic.

On 21 minutes Dean chased a ball down the left and at full stretch whipped over a wonderful cross which Hine converted beyond the far post with a bullet header.

Then Dean broke through in midfield and slipped the ball outside to Hine who cut in and finished with a telling low cross-shot.

Tamworth keeper James Belshaw did well to parry a stinging 12-yards’ drive from Dale Whitham but had no chance of preventing the unmarked Hine from completing his hat-trick in the 63rd minute from Jack Dorney’s floated left-wing centre.

Dean bulldozed his way through to force Belshaw into a brave save before Chorley made it five with two goals in the 73rd and 78th minutes.

The elusive Dorney, having a field-day down the left, crossed for Harry Winter to tap in and then a perfect short pass from Whitham enabled Dorney to fire past an exposed Belshaw. Aaron Burns, making a cameo substitute appearance, casually flicked home the rampant Magpies’ sixth in added time. “We were outstanding today,” said Garry Flitcroft. “You won’t see a better goal in the Premiership than our first and our general movement and pace were too much for Tamworth who have proved this season they are a decent side.”

Third-placed Guiseley now await Chorley in another crunch game at Victory Park tomorrow.