A superb hat trick from Colin Daniel took FC Halifax Town to a 4 v 0 victory over Clitheroe FC at the Shay.The visitors had won their previous 7 League games but despite enjoying the majority of possession in the first half they were no match for the Shaymen who've now taken 16 points from the last 18 in the League - see league table.

A delayed kick off due to troubles on the M62 that prevented players from both teams arriving on time didn't affect either side noticeably.Ryan Fisher had the first shot of the game that Jon Kennedy comfortably saved then Damien Allen shot into the wall from a 20 yard free kick at the other end.

The Shaymen took the lead with a goal of supreme quality from Colin Daniel.Junior Brown took a free kick 30 yards from goal and the Crewe Alexandra loanee swivelled to meet the ball and volleyed it left footed high past Martin Fearon into the net.

Clitheroe responded by enjoying the lots of possession with Joel Pilkington and Carl Lomax combining but Jon Kennedy and an impressive Town defence averted any danger.Challenges flew in and Referee Tankarn incurred the wrath of the Skircoat Stand on a number of occasions when he failed to clamp down on dangerous tackles.His yellow card finally appeared to caution Scott Redhead, Joel Pilkington and Bernard Morley with Redhead in particular extremely fortunate not to have received his marching orders for another foul.

Carl Lomax fluffed the visitor's best chance of the half when he raced clear form the Town defence but he failed to trouble Kennedy with a chip.Colin Daniel shot wide after Nigel Jemson and Cavell Coo created the opening and the half ended with FC Halifax Town enjoying a single goal advantage.

Three minutes into the second half and Daniel recorded his 2nd goal of the afternoon when he raced onto a long Jemson clearance, took the ball forward and shot right footed past Fearon.Good play on the left between Daniel and Brown created a crossing opportunity for Allen and his ball in was met by Ashley Stott but his header was millimetres wide of the post.

But the 3rd goal wasn't long in arriving and it was etched with quality.Town retained possession in midfield before Lincoln Adams surged forward and found Scott Phelan on the right.The former Bradford City man crossed to the near post where Daniel scored to become the first ever player in an FC Halifax Town shirt to record a hat trick and the 5th goal of his productive loan spell at the club.

The visitors lost 2 players in quick succession to injury meaning they had to play out the remainder of the game with only 9 men having already made 3 substitutions.Town did overplay on occasions and made 3 substitutions of their own with Jonny Smith, Danny Ellis and Justin Walker joining the action.

Ashley Stott netted his 10th of the season 5 minutes from time to give the Shaymen a 4 v 0 victory.Coo raced forward on the right and found Stott who smashed the ball home from 6 yards to seal a super win.

Town : Kennedy, Coo, Jemson, Meadowcroft, Adams, Phelan (Walker), Brown, Allen, Stott, Daniel (Ellis), Baker (Smith) Subs not used : Ellison, Barras