TITLE-chasing Ashton United had missed out on going second place in the Unibond League Division 1 on New Year's Day, but they took their frustration out on Kendal Town on Saturday, hitting eight past the visitors with both Hamlet and Illingworth posting hat-tricks.
Injury-hit Town went behind in the opening five minutes and knew they faced an uphill climb when they turned round 3-0 down at half-time.
They had just conceded a fourth goal quarter of an hour into the second half when new-signing Catlow struck a minute later to put them on the scoresheet.
But any hopes of a comeback soon dimmed as Illingworth swiftly cracked in his third and they finished off with three more in the last 13 minutes.
Town, who are lying fifth off the bottom, came off to learn that Tuesday night's cup opponents Gretna had hammered Trafford 7-1.
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