IF you can’t beat ‘em…

League leaders Lancaster tore a leaf out of Witton’s book, making the first half matter in the outcome of a contest they controlled from the start.

Late goals from substitutes Billy McKenna and Daniel Hattersley served to skew the result, but the Dolly Blues had done the hard bit before the break.

Their record remains perfect too after five wins from as many matches.

As for Albion, they have not now beaten Lancaster in three decades – a sequence stretching back to 1981.

Manager Brian Pritchard will have learned much from how his team reacted to trailing a match under his stewardship for the first time.

Put simply, they did not.

That the hosts gave Tony Hesketh’s men a helping hand will not lighten his mood either.

Witton had twice been foiled by net-minder Matthew Fearon, first blocking Dean Ennion’s shot then tipping over Liam Newman’s volley, before falling behind.

Alex Meaney’s curved free kick was placed perfectly, but Mathew Wood need not have fouled Zach Clark to give him the chance to score.

Witton’s left back repeated his misdemeanour, ironically felling the same player on close to the same patch of pitch, ahead of Lancester’s second goal.

However this time Meaney’s cross was helped over the line by Ryan Elderton after Jack Duggan had flicked on.

In between Witton had gone close when Fearon diverted Ennion’s stinging shot to safety, while Newman headed too high from Josh Hancock’s cross.

Unmarked, he will be unhappy not to have done better.

Pritchard sent his players out for the second half long before Lancaster, seeking a response that rarely looked likely.

Newman, leaning back, headed over again from another Hancock assist soon after the restart but it did not prove a catalyst.

At the other end, Anthony Gardner headed off the line when Lee Dodgson shot goalwards and goalkeeper Matt Cooper was swift to react when Max Rothwell shaped to score following Rob Henry’s assist.

Mark Buchan added a prong to Albion’s attack, although Albion were not in possession for long enough for him to pose a threat.

Lancaster’s replacements made the most of their chances, McKenna lobbing in a third goal with two minutes to play.

Fellow sub Hattersley steered in a smart fourth within seconds, while Witton fired a first blank.

Witton Star Man Dean Ennion. Feels almost churlish to pick one after the hosts lost 4-0, but the midfielder’s energy did not relent even when the home team trailed.

He came as close as any Albion player to scoring too, forcing goalkeeper Martin Fearon to tip over his fierce drive in the first half.

Witton (4-4-2) Cooper (GK), Gardner, Ben Harrison, Booth, Wood, Andrews, Ennion (Weaver 75), Clampitt (James 46), Hancock (Buchan 62), Newman, Titchiner
Subs not used Woolley, Moseley

Lancaster (4-4-2) Fearon (GK), Henry, Duggan, Gregson, Elderton, Clark (McKenna 67), Carney, Wills, Rothwell, Dodgson (Hattersley 59), Meaney (Kenyon 80)
Subs not used Egerton-Wilson, Johnson
Goal Meaney 8, Elderton 23, McKenna 88, Hattersley 89

Referee Jonathan Hunt (Liverpool)
Attendance 346