Rushden 4-1 Morecambe

A Duane Darby hat-trick allowed Rushden & Diamonds to ease to a comfortable victory over Morecambe.

Darby's first goal came after 22 minutes when he coolly lobbed goalkeeper Mark Smith.

Fourteen minutes later Jamie Murphy was adjudged to have handled the ball in the penalty area and Darby stepped up to slot home the spot-kick.

Darby completed his hat-trick after 54 minutes when Smith misjudged a clearance, before the visitors reduced the arrears four minutes later from a John Norman header.

Jon Brady completed the scoring when he turned in a 63rd-minute Andy Burgess cross.

The visitors missed a first-half penalty and had Murphy sent-off for a second bookable offence after 71 minutes.

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Rushden & D'monds: Turley, Mustafa, Gray, Carey, Peters, Warburton, Butterworth, Brady, Jackson, Darby, Burgess. Subs: Sigere, Rodwell, Mills, Wormull, Bossu.

Morecambe: Mark Smith, Fensome, Brown, McKearney, Hardiker, Murphy, Lee, Drummond, Quayle, Norman, Black. Subs: Lyons, Hunter, Talbot, McGuire, McIlharghey.

Referee: J Hegley (Bishop Stortford)