The draw for the first round of the Butterworth Cup paired Gardeners and Crown and Shuttle and with both teams competing successfully in the Rochdale Sunday League Division Two, there was always going to be a bit of added spice to this cup tie.

The League’s 11am kick-off ruling was the first winner of the morning, allowing the brilliant sunshine to extract early frost from the Bowlee pitch and giving referee David Taylor an easy decision to make – after a thorough inspection, game on.

Attacking down the slope, Gardeners’ opening spell was hampered by a surface that resembled a cabbage patch, but after Crown’s Nick Preston rocked the Heywood team’s goalpost, they dug deep to produce some excellent football.

Andrew Smith and Scott Hardy pulled the strings, while Craig Winter and Mike Weatherilt rattled the visitors’ defence as they burst onto the attack.

With the Crown defence tied up by the forward duo, the Gardeners’ fullbacks drove down the flanks – Tobias and Heap heaping more pressure on the visitors’ rearguard.

Gardeners gained control and, after 23 minutes, brilliant footwork by Hardy followed by an exquisite pass set Weatherilt up for a shot at goal; his powerful left-footed drive flashing past Larder and into the net.

A minute later it was route one. A long ball down the centre was controlled by Winter, who drilled a measured shot into the net; Larder again left clutching at thin air.

At 2-0 Gardeners were well in command but there followed a period of complacency.

The visitors, spurred on by the influential Dave Jenkins, regained some control, but Hogarth’s leadership restored his team’s dominance and, after several close shaves Weatherilt fired inside the far post, after Winter’s diagonal ball had put him clear.

The 3-0 half-time scoreline was harsh on the visitors, but with the advantage of the slope in the second half Crown were still in with a shout.

And it was déjà vu as, early in the second half, Preston struck the Gardeners’ upright for a second time.

But rather than curse their luck, Crown drove forward and were rewarded in the 53rd minute, Lewis Lloyd firing past Ste Evans to reduce the arrears.

With the resurgent visitors enjoying their best spell of the game, 16 year old Danny Rosser gave way to Ryan Alessandra in an attempt to stem the tide and utilise his replacement’s pace and experience.

The move was to pay dividends, Alessandra quickly settling in to change the pattern of the game and putting Gardener’s back on the front foot, while using the better surface at the top end of the pitch to pass the ball around and dictate the flow of the game.

Smith’s great run deserved better, then Weatherilt hit the post, before extending Gardeners’ lead from the penalty spot, after the visitors’ keeper ‘mugged’ Winter.

With Simon McGrath and Phil Taylor strong and sound at the back Gardeners’ approach play was a delight to watch.

Callum Heap impressed and found time to raid down the left, giving Smith, Weatherilt and Winter space to receive and play the ball in and around the visitors’ box; creating goal-scoring opportunities and tormenting the now tiring Crown defence.

Gardeners’ keeper Evans had little to do but, when called upon in the 79th minute, he produced a superb save, tipping a goal-bound effort over the bar.

With the back door locked, Gardeners ran riot in the last 10 minutes, adding two more goals to their tally.

Hardy’s pinpoint ball down the left flank was collected and crossed with unerring accuracy by Weatherilt, Winter providing the finishing touch.

Minutes later, Weatherilt supplied the mercurial Winter with a tap in to complete a fine hat-trick. It was a rip-roaring finish to a highly entertaining cup tie, which at one stage seemed very even. But the Gardeners’ line-up included several players of quality with the ability to raise their performance to a higher level, as and when required.

Along with the two hat trick heroes, all the Gardeners’ players contributed to a tremendous team effort which, in the end, proved far too good for a plucky Crown and Shuttle side.

This was an excellent match well handled by referee Taylor.

On Sunday, Gardeners entertain Royal Exchange in the Norden and Bamford Financial Services League Cup; kick-off 11am at Bowlee.