Paddy Lauber hit a stunning first half hat-trick and set up two extra time goals as Shaws of Darwen retained the cup in another Anchor Ground thriller.

Lauber struck twice within the first four minutes then completed his hat-trick on the stroke of half time as the Firemen had no answer to his lethal left boot.

That crucial third goal should have been enough to see off the Firemen -- who had pulled a goal back through Nigel Yates -- but they had other ideas.

Having scrapped through on penalties in the semi final, Blackburn and Darwen Fire had already shown their battling qualities and they were at it again to take the game in to extra time. Lauber gave the holders the perfect start when he received a short corner back of Liam Taylor then whipped in a shot that full back Neil Cameron or keeper Paul Jump could keep out.

And Jump was left rooted to the spot just two minutes later when Lauber unleashed another shot from the same spot with the same stunning result.

The Firemen hadn't even been out of their own half as Shaws threatened to run riot.

But slowly they clawed their way back in to the final. Gordon Mitchell fired just over the bar after Yates rolled the ball back in to his path before Paul Brown won the ball out wide and whipped in a great cross that Yates fired home. The Firemen were now in the ascendancy and Brown fired just wide after good work by Mitchell and Glen Trobe missed the target when well placed.

But Shaws made the vital breakthrough just before the break when Lauber cut in from the right and fired a low shot past Jump from the edge of the area.

With the wind in their favour, the Firemen tried their luck from range but Shaws keeper Jon Wilson held firm as the impressive Dave Williams, Mitchell and substitute Nick Lee all tried their luck.

In between, Shaws skipper Steve Eggleston saw his well struck free kick deflected just over the bar.

But the goal the Firemen threatened arrive on the hour as Mitchell fed Yates who got to the byline and fired in a cross that was too hot to handle for Wilson and Brown tucked home the loose ball.

Then deep in to injury time, Mitchell again was in the thick of the action to set up Nigel Fuller to fire across Wilson for a dramatic equaliser.

But Lauber orchestrated Shaws fourth goal in extra time when his surging run down the right and cross eventually fell to Lethard who fired high past the despairing dive of Jump.

Unlike their semi final, the Firemen did not have another comeback in them and four minutes in to the second period, Dave Berry rounded off a gutsy display when he rose at the far post to head home Lauber's deep corner.

FARLEYS ORPHANAGE CUP FINAL 2002

Blackburn with Darwen Fire 'A'...3

Shaws of Darwen...5 (aet)

3-3 after 90 mins

SHAWS OF DARWEN: Jon Wilson, Phil Hargreaves, Jimmy Turnbull, Michael Leaf

(Wayne Addison 91), Matt Taylor (Bruce Willets 38), Steve Eggleston, Baz Lethard, Dave Berry, Darren Knowles, Liam Taylor, Patrick Lauber.

STAR MAN: Patrick Lauber

BLACKBURN WITH DARWEN FIRE 'A': Paul Jump, Neil Cameron, Dave Williams, Glen Trobe (Howard Yates 80), Steve Boyne, Mark Southworth, Gordon Mitchell, Neil Fuller, Nigel Yates, Paul Brown, Paul Guinan (Nick Lee 20)

STAR MAN: Gordon Mitchell