WITTONERS can smile once more.

Danny Andrews led Ashton’s defence a merry dance, scoring a hat-trick, but Tony Sullivan’s celebratory jig – fuelled by relief as much as joy – best captured the mood at Wincham Park.

Albion, beaten in 12 successive Premier Division matches, were rampant. This win was no fluke.

Their guests, victors on four previous road trips, had collected more points away from home this season than anybody outside of the table’s top two.

But they were swept away by a three-goal burst in eight minutes at the start of the second half.

After an even opening period, during which both teams could claim to have merited an advantage, Ashton had reason to feel ambushed.

They stirred, closing to 3-2 when Witton wobbled, only for Andrews to tease skipper Jack Higgins into a hurried, clumsy tackle to concede a penalty.

It was converted with a furious swish of the wide man’s left boot that took him to a personal treble and the hosts to a precious three points.

By the time substitute Joe Shaw gleefully rolled a fifth goal in stoppage time the Robins, reduced to 10 men by goalkeeper Paul Phillips’ dismissal for petulance, were ragged and unrecognisable.

They were made to look that way by Witton, who included new recruits Dean Porter and Luke Clark from the start for the first time.

Both played an important part.

The latter might have put Albion in front inside five minutes only for Higgins to swipe clear spectacularly his clipped finish from under the crossbar.

Porter was decisive with a double save to deny Martin Pilkington when the two came face-to-face, recovering quickly enough to block Brad Robinson’s attempt from the rebound.

Moments earlier, the same player had skewed off target from close range after receiving Lee Rick’s cushioned header.

Witton, set a target of picking up seven points from the next three matches by chairman Mark Harris in his programme notes, played as if in pursuit of all of those in one go shortly after half time.

Andrews’ direct free kick crept inside an upright on 53 minutes, then he nudged a cute finish past Phillips after anticipating Jamie Henders would flick on a lofted pass.

When Clark teed up Zac Corbett to lift in a third shortly afterwards, the reaction was incredulous.

Substitute Chris Baguley swerved in a stunning strike from distance to make it 3-1 before Dale Johnson broke through a high defensive line to sweep in a second goal with a quarter of an hour left.

Witton, even if fleetingly, teetered.

But Higgins’ mistake, stretching to delay Andrews’ dribble, proved costly.

The resulting penalty restored a two-goal buffer before Phillips lost his temper, perhaps borne of frustration his side had let slip a chance, following a clash with Henders.

Joe Shaw marked his return to Witton when applying the finishing touch to Andrews’ unselfish assist, ending a wait to win in the league that started on September 6.

No wonder those supporters’ smiles were so wide.

Witton (3-5-2) Porter (GK), Barnes, Harrison, John Shaw, Gardner, Clark (Joe Shaw 70), Dawson (Gibson 62), Andrews, Corbett, Henders, Titchiner (O’Brien 85) Subs not used Swift (GK), Koral Goals Andrews 53, 56, 78 (penalty) Corbett 61, Shaw 90 Booked Clark (foul)

Ashton (4-4-2) Phillips (GK), Roberts-Nurse (Bennett 58), Williams, Higgins, Pearson, Robinson (Harries 47), Young, Rick, Coppin, Pilkington (Baguley 46), Johnson Subs not used Halford, Haslam Goals Baguley 63, Johnson 74 Booked Coppin (dissent) Sent off Phillips (ungentlemanly conduct)

Referee Bob Roberts

Attendance 312