A ROB Hopley double on Saturday helped Witton Albion to complete a double over Scarborough.

It means Carl Macauley’s in-form side, depleted by injury absences and the departure of Jon Dawson earlier this week, have won four of their past five First Division North matches.

Hopley, on target now 15 times in 20 games since switching from Colwyn Bay, put the visitors ahead on 11 minutes.

He reacted quickly to steer a loose ball into the net after debutant goalkeeper Max Dearnley spilled a shot from one of his teammates.

Boro, beaten in the return game a fortnight earlier when Danny Andrews scored a penalty in stoppage time, drew level shortly afterwards when Jamie Forrester finished coolly.

Witton quickly regained the lead though, Alex Titchiner lifting the ball over Dearnley after Boro’s Steve Mallory had allowed the ball to bounce.

A third goal ought to have followed before the break, but Andrews’ shot from close range hit the crossbar.

Dearnley made a smart save to thwart Carl Peers in the second period, although Witton did not have to wait long to add a decisive strike.

Hopley glided through a porous Boro backline on 64 minutes, then lifted a smart finish over their custodian.

Ryan Blott prompted Ryan Neild, deputising for Danny Roberts, to block with his legs at the other end before substitute Glenn Matthews halved the hosts’ arrears with a header from a corner.

There was time for another Andrews attempt to be diverted by Dearnley, while Scarborough’s shouts for a penalty for a foul on Jamie Price were ignored by referee Elliott Heward.

Witton, who host lowly Ossett Town on Tuesday, climb into the table’s top half for the first time since mid-February.

Boro | Dearnley (GK), Robson, Merris, Lamplough (Robinson 61), Lisles (Peat 50), Mallory, Price, Birch (Matthews 76), Blott, Flint, Forrester Subs not used Bolder, McNamee Goals Forrester 17, Matthews 81

Witton | Neild (GK), Garner, Peers, Wilson, Chrisokhou, Noone, King, Owens, Hopley, Titchiner (Newton 90), Andrews Subs not used Garner (GK), Hickman Goals Hopley 11, 64 Titchiner 21 Booked King (simulation)

Referee Elliott Heward

Attendance 339