THE last time Witton Albion hosted Droylsden in Northwich they won by a four-goal margin.

Back then, in March 2013, both were playing in the Northern Premier League’s top flight.

The home team were similarly emphatic victors again, and have momentum for Monday afternoon’s meeting with title-favourites Warrington Town after recording three wins this week.

With six matches of the season left, Carl Macauley’s men are two points adrift of a top 10 place.

Droylsden arrived without a shutout to their name on their travels this term, a statistic that remained intact after 26 minutes.

Perhaps deceived by a swirling wind blowing in his direction, goalkeeper Lewis Fielding could only push Danny Andrews’ free kick into the air.

When the ball dropped, Michael Wilson was waiting to nudge it into the net – his first goal in a red and white shirt.

Pinned into their own half by the elements, and by Albion players pressing high up the pitch, the Bloods were strangers to hosts’ territory.

And they almost fell further behind when Carl Peers slipped a pass to Alex Titchiner who, after turning smartly, sliced wide of the near upright.

Instead Witton doubled their lead from another set piece when Anthony Gardner’s chipped kick was diverted by front man Rob Hopley into the far corner with the deftest of headers.

The contest was over inside an hour.

Jeff King, who has grown in influence during each of his appearances since switching from Ashton United, dribbled inside from the left touchline.

He passed to Andrews, who drilled to the far post where Hopley was waiting to steer into an open goal.

The Bloods, who had recorded back-to-back wins before arriving in Northwich, offered little by way of a response.

There was no surprise when Witton added a fourth goal to their tally, although fortune favoured King when his cross arced over Fielding and sneaked into the net off the far upright.

Andrews skewed an effort off-target when Hopley turned provider, while Albion custodian Danny Roberts was prompted to make a save for the first time on 74 minutes when Yomi Samuels’ drive skidded in front of him off a surface made sodden by a torrential downpour.

After Peers had flashed wide a header from King’s corner at the near post, Hopley will have been relieved maximum points were already safe when he slid wide –  under pressure from Samuels – with the goal at his mercy from substitute Joe Newton’s cross.

It meant he missed out on a first treble for Witton.

Another replacement, Tom Owens, warmed Fielding’s palms following more clever approach play from King late on.

Witton  | 4-4-2 | Roberts (GK), Gardner, Mullarkey (Chrisokhou 74), Wilson, Dawson, Andrews (Newton 72), Schofield, Peers, King, Hopley, Titchiner (Owens 64) Subs not used Garner (GK), Noone Goals Wilson 26, Hopley 35, 58, King 62

Droylsden | 4-4-2 | Fielding (GK), Clarke, Hewitt, Ben Hampson, Samuels, Burke, Daly (Edmondson-Rouse 65), Byrnes, Zibaka (Pino 64), Parkinson (Bove 55), Hasler-Cregg Subs not used O’Brien, James Hampson Booked Samuels, Burke (both fouls)

Referee Daniel Issawi

Attendance 282