A CHRIS Mason hat-trick helped Radcliffe Borough to a comfortable victory over Wigan Robin Park in the Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy on Tuesday night.

The visitors enjoyed the better of the opening minutes with Daniel Hollerran’s shot easily saved by Chris Cheetham, before Dave Sherlock, on his return from suspension, saw his 35-yard effort fly over the bar for Boro.

Mason opened the scoring for Boro with a penalty on 36 minutes after he had been brought down in the box.

Boro had chances to extend their lead before the break when a Dave Sherlock corner found the head of Richard Smith but the ball hit the post and bounced away to safety. On the stroke of half time Sam Howell laid the ball through to Thomas Hulme but his shot went wide of the target.

Boro increased their lead three minutes into the second half after good link-up work from Mason and Howell with Sam Grimshaw crossing the ball to Hulme who made no mistake from six yards.

Mason scored a minute later, lobbing the keeper from the edge of the penalty area after Sam Howell’s through ball, to make it 3-0.

Mason could have had his hat-trick on 55 minutes when he headed over from six yards but he made no mistake five minutes later after good work from Danny Lambert.

With 10 minutes remaining, substitutes Jack Hindle and Danny White combined well with Hindle’s shot forcing the Wigan keeper to push the ball into the path of Sherlock who scored Boro’s fifth goal.

Elliott Rokka netted the sixth and final goal with four minutes left as Boro romped into the second round.

l Boro and Ossett Albion shared the points in a 1-1 draw on Saturday. Boro had the better of the first half with Danny White and Rokka going close before taking the lead in the 18th minute.

White’s shot was parried by the Osset keeper but Jack Hindle made no mistake with the rebound.

Ossett hit the post on 22 minutes and Chris Cheetham made two close-range saves to preserve Boro’s lead.

David Brown equalised for Ossett in the 54th minute when he found himself unmarked in the area.

A second Ossett goal was ruled out for offside two minutes later and captain Wes Milnes hit the post in the final stages.