West Lothian football round-up: Linlithgow Rose climb top of the table while Blackburn United hit six past Vale of Leithen

Richie Hutton bagged a hat-trick as Blackburn United sealed an emphatic 6-0 home win over Vale of Leithen.

The East of Scotland Premier Division basement boys arrived in West Lothian off the back of picking up their first league win of the campaign but an assured performance from the Burnie swept away any hopes of a second straight triumph.

The home side were firmly in the driving seat within two minutes as Hutton produced a moment of magic.

The winger robbed Gary Tickle of possession on the halfway line before charging down the flank, cutting inside on the edge of the box and effortlessly stroking the ball beyond Lewis Sanderson for the opener.

He doubled his account, and Blackburn’s lead, on 19 minutes when he was the quickest to react to Calum Heath’s curling effort clattering back off the post as he stabbed home the rebound.

It would be 3-0 on the half-hour mark as a David Howe corner was met by Scott Richards with his strike nestling into the back of the net after bouncing off the far post.

A quick-fire double at the start of the second-half put any hopes of a Vale comeback to bed. Hutton completed his hat-trick on 48 minutes as he was sent clear and slammed the ball beyond Sanderson who, despite conceding six, had an impressive game for Vale.

The fifth arrived moments later when skipper Marcus Millar headed a Vale goal-kick back towards goal with Heath able to benefit as he got in behind the defence to fire into the net.

The final goal arrived 14 minutes from time as Luke Meikle’s ball across goal was tapped home by Michael Gould to complete the rout.

The victory - just their second of the season - lifts Blackburn five points clear of the relegation zone.

At the other end of the table, Linlithgow Rose climed to the