JORDAN Cobley announced his return to Barnton with a hat-trick in a comfortable away win.

The Villagers have taken maximum points from three of their past four matches and can target a position in the top 10 of the North West Counties League’s First Division South.

They had to absorb pressure during the early stages, and Jordan Stafford cleared the danger from a corner.

An opening goal arrived on 10 minutes when teenager Leon Wright teed up Cobley and the striker, who continues to train with Witton Albion where he is also registered, finished smartly.

James McShane’s men survived a scare before the break when an opponent failed to hit the target from inside the six-yard box after a corner dropped kindly.

Goalkeeper Arran Lyons made a smart stop with his legs early in the second-half before Luke Wilson-Jones drilled an effort off-target.

Cobley then made it 2-0 when he took the ball around Rangers custodian Richard Cowderoy before rolling it into an empty net.

Barnton made sure the outcome would be in their favour when they scored twice in as many minutes.

Wilson-Jones finished emphatically to make it 3-0 before Cobley completed a personal treble after Wright had again been unselfish in the build-up.

And there was gloss added late on when skipper Sam Houghton converted form the penalty-spot.

Barnton | Lyons (GK), Stafford, Rizzotti, Richards, Dursley, Weeder (Malone 67), Houghton, Wright, Cobley (Shaw 81), Wilson-Jones, Rigby (Derek McShane) Subs not used James McShane, Kenyon Goals Cobley 35, 63, 74 Wilson-Jones 72, Houghton 84 (penalty) Booked Houghton, Wright

Attendance 70

Additional reporting by Niall Owens