UNBELIEVABLE' was the verdict of hat-trick hero Peter Thorne after Town's 6-0 thrashing of Huddersfield in October 1996, writes JON RITSON.

A devastating 20-minute spell saw the Terriers terrorised, leaving then boss Brian Horton to bemoan his worst drubbing in 14 years of management'.

That was in stark contrast to the mood in the County Ground camp, especially with a cup tie at Manchester United looming large.

Thorne said: "I'm just so happy. To come back into the side and get a hat-trick is unbelievable.

"It's a great time to start scoring again with big games against Crystal Palace and Manchester United coming up now.

"We're flying now after that win and we'll fancy our chances against anybody just bring them on.

"It's great to score a hat-trick I just wish I'd had a few more shots because everything I hit was flying in.

"I got hold of the ball at the end and didn't let it out of my sight for the rest of the night."

Manager Steve McMahon was just as delighted and said it was a result that had been 12 months in the making.

He said: "We've been threatening to do that for a year.

"Everything we hit seemed to go in. It was just one of those nights.

"I've never seen an easy goal so Peter still had to be there and take his chances."

As for the match itself, Mark Walters opened the scoring on 28 minutes, rifling a low shot past Huddersfield keeper Steve Francis.

Thorne bagged his first and Town's second of the night four minutes later, heading home a Walters cross from the left.

Wayne Allison then celebrated his 28th birthday against his home town club by making it 3-0, turning in Mark Robinson's low cross.

Four minutes before the break, Kevin Horlock charged down Lee Sinnott's attempted clearance before running 50 yards and firing past Francis.

Thorne made no mistake from 10 yards on 47 minutes to make it 5-0 and the rout was completed 60 seconds later with Thorne completing his hat-trick, converting another pinpoint Walters cross.

The visitors had their goalkeeper to thank for not suffering an even heavier humiliation.

Francis made two superb late stops from Steve Cowe and Walters respectively.

Visiting boss Horton said: "It's the worst I've witnessed in my 14 years of management.

"They (the players) have let everyone down themselves, the supporters who travelled to see the game and the whole club."

Town: Frank Talia, Mark Robinson (Paul Allen), Gary Elkins, Scott Leitch (Wayne O'Sullivan), Mark Seagraves, Ian Culverhouse, Mark Walters, Frederic Darras, Peter Thorne, Wayne Allison (Steve Cowe), Kevin Horlock.

Att: 7,724.