Farsley Celtic 4, Bradford Park Avenue 1.

An Ian Blackstone hat-trick and a goal from old boy Martin Regan handed Avenue a heavy defeat in yesterday's UniBond Division One derby at Farsley Celtic.

For Avenue, who were fourth, there was no way back after Celtic stormed to a 3-0 lead before half time and the three points rekindles the Throstle Nest outfit's hopes of being an outside bet in the race for promotion to the Premier Division.

Former York City striker Blackstone set Celtic on the way to their victory when he swept the ball home from six yards in the 16th minute after Damian Henderson had headed down a cross.

Just after the half hour Regan struck an unstoppable 30 yard shot after running through the inside right channel and three minutes before the break Blackstone netted his second from the penalty spot.

He was brought down by Avenue keeper Gavin Kelly well inside the area, but Kelly escaped the yellow card because he had pushed the striker wide.

With just nine minutes to go Stephen Ball, who had posed the home defence problems in the second half, pulled one back when he cut inside and stroked the ball past home keeper Wayne Baker.

The jaded visitors did not look capable of mounting a late comeback and Blackstone put the result beyond doubt three minutes from time.

Substitute Danny Ames played him through and though Kelly got a hand to his shot from the edge of the area it had too much power and looped in.

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