JOSH BARRON scored a hat-trick as league leaders Southgate thrashed North Petherwin Reserves for the second time in just over a month.

This local derby was originally scheduled to be played at North Petherwin’s ground, but due to a waterlogged pitch, the fixture was reversed and played at Southgate’s home ground, the Launceston College playing fields.

The pitch was not in great condition, as soon after kick-off the middle of the park became somewhat of a mud bath.

Southgate knew that this was not the time to be playing the ball around in the midfield and tried to take advantage of the wide areas as much as possible.

This is where the first goal of the game came from.

Southgate’s Liam Cairns picked the ball up out on the right-hand side and dribbled into the penalty area and from a tight angle fired home.

North Petherwin soon equalised from a set piece, as Andrew Sleeman nodded in from close range. Southgate managed to get in front again when Nathan Farrer headed home a corner.

The third goal of the game came from Liam Cairns as he took a perfectly weighted pass from Brandon Stott in his stride and slotted past the Petherwin goal keeper for his second of the game.

Southgate found their fourth goal as Josh Barron scored directly from a corner.

Barron soon doubled his tally after a good break from Southgate, with the ball being played over the top from the right to the left, resulting in Tom Hancock playing it back into the box for a simple Barron tap-in.

Following the break, with conditions worsening, Southgate managed to make it 6-1 with Tom Hancock being provider again with a nice throughball for Barron to run on to and coolly dink over the advancing keeper to complete his hat-trick.

North Petherwin rounded off the scoring with another set piece. Andrew Sleeman got his second of the day by heading over the advancing Southgate goalkeeper following a free kick.

After a spate of injuries, Southgate were back to full strength as the ‘BLT’ trio of Barron, Tom Hancock and Cairns came to the fore.

They’ll get their chance to extend their lead in their quest for promotion on Saturday when they travel to mid-table Lostwithiel Reserves (2.30pm).