CHRIS Blackburn's hat-trick was key as Marsh edged a nine-goal Spen Valley League thriller at Saville Youth in a mid-table Premier Division skirmish.

Richard Harvey and Mark Milner added to Blackburn's treble to better replies from Imran Patel, Mohsin Hazi, Zubair Ibrahim and an own goal in the 5-4 outcome.

There was only one less goal as Girlington won 5-3 at Smokin' Aces to move within a point of top two TVR United and Route One Rovers, who were both without a game.

Shoaib Javed's double was backed up by Adeeb Jawad, Atif Shehzad and Umar Ali for the winners, with Ashraf Navsarka, Imran Farooq and Mohammed Adam responding.

Spen Valley Trophy action included a 4-1 win for unbeaten Palestino against fellow Division One high-fliers Idle. Abdur Rahim, Ryan Sansom, James Chadwick and a Ben McCardle penalty proved decisive.

It was the same score as Athletico beat Savile Town, while Shabbaz Patel's goal proved enough for Savile United to win 1-0 at Whitburn Athletic.

Cleckheaton Sporting narrowly missed out on their first Division One points of the season as they were edged out 5-4 by fellow strugglers Norfolk, with doubles by Said Said and Nazakat Ali the decisive factor. Ismail Loonat completed the Norfolk tally.

Inter Batley (Suleman Variava, Moosa Hafeji) did break their duck with a 2-2 draw against George Healey (Phil Clarke, Luke Newsome).

Mount Pleasant leapfrogged opponents Howden Cough into third place with a 4-3 victory as Mohammed Patel (2), Adam Rawat and Mohammed Omar outscored Reece Scholes (2) and Ryan Keracher.