Having slumped to ninth place with two losses and two draws after opening the campaign with a slim win, Mohammedan came alive after a two-week welcome break with their Nigerian captain slotting six goals including the fastest goal of the league. Kamal Hossain completed the biggest victory of the professional league so far on the stroke of the final whistle.

Run ragged by their mighty opponents, bottom-table Rahmatganj pulled one back through Ashraful Awal Apu.

Paul, the first foreigner to wear the black and whites armband, hit the record book to inspire their first win in five games, which came after a span of five weeks.

He also became the first man to score a double hattrick in 31 years after Brothers Union's Mohsin had scored seven against East End in the then first division league in 1976. Earlier, Abahani striker Kazi Salahuddin and Mohammedan's Hafizuddin were the only two to strike six goals in a match in the post-Liberation era.

Mohammedan, who ignored competition rules by wearing an all-black outfit with strips of white and green, went ahead just 55 seconds after start when Paul blasted a right-footer into the far post after meeting a left-side corner by Biplab for the fastest B. League goal.

Rahmatganj escaped narrowly in the 11th minute when their defender Mahiuddin nodded the ball onto their own post while Paul shot wide a minute later.

Mohammedan's early domination fizzled out as the five-man Rahmatganj midfield took control and earned a deserved equaliser in the 34th minute. Getting the ball from Hanif from right flank, veteran striker Milon cut the ball back for Apu inside the box and the midfielder raced past Mohammedan defender Arif to place the ball with his left foot past debutant Liberian goalkeeper James Paul.

Apu, however, committed a clumsy challenge on medio Zahid to hand their opponents a penalty that brought Mohammedan back into the game five minutes from break as Paul converted the spotkick effortlessly.

In a one-man show in the second half, the robust Paul -- who transferred from Muktijoddha this season -- found the net in the 55, 72, 76 and 80 minutes virtually on his own.

Rahmatganj keeper Apel, who replaced Amjad at the break, helplessly watched Paul make most of his non-moving feet with a headed goal, one that went into the top right corner and two low drives from outside the box.

Apel however, saved a penalty by Farhad in the 88th minute but Mohammedan fullback Kamal sealed the victory in the injury time with a 20-yard drive into the roof of the net.

With two wins, Mohammedan moved to sixth place with eight points but still remained behind their Chittagong wing.

Chittagong Mohammedan, who edged archrivals Chittagong Abahani 1-0 in the port city derby also yesterday, climbed to fourth place with 11 points after six games.

Rashed Ahmed Dipu slotted the match winner in the 33rd minute to separate the two sides at the MA Aziz Stadium.

Second from bottom Chittagong Abahani remained on three points, followed by Rahmatganj on one.

Yellow cards: Mithu, Paul, Sharif (Mohammedan) and Apu, Sony (Rahmatganj).

TEAMS
MOHAMMEDAN: James, Arif, Odafe, Biplab, Zahid (Ripon), Emeka, Mithu (Rony), Sharif (Sentu), Kamal, Paul and Farhad.

RAHMATGANJ: Amjad (Apel), Mahiuddin, Sony, Shipon, Rimon, Rizvi (Hanif), Emon, Apu, Ruku, Milon and Shoaib.

Referee: Abdul Hannan.