A SPARKLING hat trick from striker Kevin Ellison put Town to the sword in their first foray into this season's Pontin's League Cup.

The 26-year-old Liverpudlian - a former teammate of both Danny Adams and Gary Taylor- Fletcher - put Hull in front with a 15th-minute penalty.

Then the £100,000 signing from Chester City crushed Town's hopes with cracking finishes after 56 and 62 minutes.

It all served to highlight how Town couldn't find a finish despite some neat build-up play in searing heat at North Ferriby United's Grange Lane Ground.

Town caused themselves most of their problems, though, by being caught square and allowing Hull's midfield to run through the centre too freely.

Ellison himself created the opening for the penalty when wrong-footing John McCombe and then bursting past debutant Adam Wilson as he advanced to challenge.

McCombe was fortunate to escape a red card when fouling Ellison as he raced into the area, but his booking preceded a fierce spot kick from the No10 which gave Phil Senior no chance.

Further chances for Ellison and Nathan Hotte from pacy breaks had Senior ranting at his defence to get organised, and they managed to keep the home side fairly quiet until the break.

At the other end, Town threatened mostly through John McAliskey, who tested keeper Sergio Leite with a crisp snap shot and another curler just wide.

There was also a crunching volley from McCombe and a drive by Junior Mendes before the break and it spurred Town into a bright start to the second half.

A low shot by McAliskey drifted only a yard off target while Matthew Young had a good shooting chance from a Tony Carss cross but directed the ball wide.

Mendes and Carss, with a low drive, warmed the hands of Leite, but then Ellison's quickfire double on the break ended any hopes of a fightback.

Russell Fry created the first with a 30-yard ball over the top and Ellison's left-foot volley was precision itself.

Then, in similar fashion following a Curtis Woodhouse break through the middle, Ellison gave Senior little chance with a well-placed left-foot finish from 15 yards.

Both sides wilted after that, but Town will be glad to have got Adnan Ahmed through a first full 90 minutes of the regular season.

He worked hard to create openings in the middle, but a Tony Carss overhead kick and a stoppage-time raid from Mendes was all Town had to show for their efforts.

Senior pulled off a fine late save from substitute James Bennett, and he will hope for better protection when Town are next in action at Bradford on Tuesday (7.00) and in their forthcoming League Cup group games against Sheffield United and Grimsby Town in October and December.

Town: Senior, Hardy (Racchi, 72mins), Lloyd, Fowler, McCombe, Wilson (Hand, HT), Young, Carss, McAliskey, Mendes, Ahmed. Subs not used: Eastwood, Biddle, Beck.