CALLAM Gardner’s stunning six-minute hat-trick at Burscough on Tuesday turned around a game that risked getting away from Winsford United.

The wide man converted Ryan Steele’s cross to level after Lee Healey had put the home team in front.

He then showed off his superlative skill at set-pieces, curling in a perfectly-placed effort to make it 2-1 before completing a personal treble with a quickly-taken free-kick while the Linnets protested.

Afterwards, Blues assumed total control.

They led 4-1 when substitute Chris Middleton, playing as a stand-in striker following the withdrawal of Dave Short, drove confidently past goalkeeper Luis Abreu from another Steele assist.

New recruit Jason Fowles, who had taken Gardner’s place, got in on the act after 73 minutes when he poked in a loose ball after Abreu had fumbled Justin Pickering’s initial attempt.

It was left to 17-year-old Robbie Hatton to complete the scoring when his glancing header at the near post converted Pickering’s corner from the right.

By then, Winsford’s first-half troubles will have felt a lifetime ago.

Joseph Stanley’s speculative attempt from distance dropped just too late to embarrass goalkeeper Michael Langley.

However Burscough, without a win in any of their previous 11 league games this season, cursed their luck when Terry Cummings’ shot struck the underside of the bar.

It dropped down onto the line, and Blues scrambled clear.

At the other end, Will Foster’s header from Gardner’s corner was smuggled off the line by a defender.

Prince Ekpolo also went close for the home team after carving his way into the penalty area before shooting narrowly off-target.

It was Gardner’s night to shine though.

Burscough | Abreu (GK), Cheetham, O’Brien, Stanley (Clark 81), Puissance, Parkes, Ekpolo, Seol (Threkeld 59), Healey, Gilchrist, Cummings Subs not used Diggle, Meredith, Smith Goal Healey 46 Booked Puissance

Winsford | Langley (GK), Skolorzynski, Bircumshaw, Kerr, Foster, Hopper, Rothwell, Hatton, Short (Middleton 62), Gardner (Fowles 71), Steele (Pickering 68) Sub not used Joe Duckworth Goals Gardner 52, 54, 58 Middleton 65, Fowles 73, Hatton 90 Booked Rothwell, Middleton

Referee Paul Ince

Attendance 65

Match report by Bob Astles