Eastbourne Borough 0 Stevenage Borough 6 MITCHELL Cole s six minute hat-trick helped Boro to an emphatic win at Eastbourne as Graham Westley s men sent out a warning to the rest of the Blue Square Premier that they mean business. Leading 1-0 at the break

Eastbourne Borough 0 Stevenage Borough 6

MITCHELL Cole's six minute hat-trick helped Boro to an emphatic win at Eastbourne as Graham Westley's men sent out a warning to the rest of the Blue Square Premier that they mean business.

Leading 1-0 at the break after captain Mark Roberts had opened the scoring Boro ran riot in the second period against a team which although struggling near the foot of the table ended York City's 10 month unbeaten home run on Saturday.

After an even 40 minutes Roberts scored the opener for the visitors when he finished off a training ground free kick routine. Scott Laird ran over the ball 20 yards out and continued his run into the box unmarked

Joel Byrom passed the set piece to him before the left-back squared it to Roberts who fired home from eight yards.

Eastbourne had threatened the Boro goal on a number of occasions in the first half but Boro, with Mark Albrighton solid again at the back, limited the hosts, and especially Joe Benjamin, to long distance efforts.

Boro began the game with Peter Vincenti up front and first team coach Dino Maamria on the bench due to injuries, but Vincenti struggled to get into the game and was taken off on 63 minutes.

The match was all over by then as David Bridges had nodded home another free kick two minutes after the break and Eastbourne struggled to get back into the game.

Chris Beardsley, the star performer on the night, then made it three when he took advantage of a mistake by Danny Knowles in the Eastbourne goal.

The 'keeper came out of his box to make a clearance but in a mix up between him and his back line Beardsley was left to knock home a Stacy Long pass from 25 yards into an open goal.

Cole came on in the 71st minute and nine minutes later got his first. Beardsley was brought down by Darren Baker as he ran into the box and being the last defender Baker was sent off. Cole stepped up to hit a sweet left footed penalty into the top corner to rub salt in the wound.

Eddie Odhiambo, in a rare appearance, came off the bench and almost made it five but scuffed a shot at Knowles before Cole swept home from close range from Odhiambo's cross for goal number five before sealing his hat-trick moments later when he raced clear on to a Long through ball to slot the ball past Knowles.

Eastbourne Borough (4-4-2): Knowles 5, Baker 5, Austin 6, Pullan 6, Elphick 6, M Crabb 6, Armstrong 5, Taylor 7, Johnson 6, Enver-Marum 5, Benjamin 7. Subs: Jenkins, Smart, N Crabb, Atkin, Weatherstone.

Stevenage Borough (4-3-3): Day 6, Laird 7, Ashton 7, Albrighton 8, Roberts 7, Byrom 8 (Odhambo), Bridges 7, Bostwick 8, Odubade 7 (Cole 71), Beardsley 8, Vincenti 6 (Long 7, 63). Subs: Bayes, Maamria.

Attendance: 903