WITTON Albion did what was expected of them on Saturday, and brushed aside lowly Loughborough.

They needed more than half an hour to find a way through the division’s leakiest defence but, once they had, the outcome was never in doubt.

Carl Macauley’s 50th game in charge at Wincham Park was a happy one.

Rob Hopley put the home team in front after 38 minutes, poking past goalkeeper Liam Sharpe after reaching a through-ball first.

Brad Bauress fired high after Steven Tames, signed on a three-month loan from Stalybridge Celtic on Friday, had nodded into his path.

The latter then prompted Sharpe to save with a header of his own.

Paul Williams doubled Albion’s lead on 64 minutes, firing past Loughborough’s number one with power from a direct free kick.

Witton were enjoying themselves by the time Bauress, after finding space inside the visitors’ penalty area, guided a smart finish into the net for 3-0.

Within a minute a gap between the teams grew wider when Tolani Omotola, on as a substitute after Prince Haywood sustained an injury, claimed his 12th goal of the campaign.

Albion’s back-line could not keep a clean sheet though, substitute Conor Brown-Wingfield making the most of a defensive mix-up to grab a consolation for the visitors in added time.

After the leading five teams in the table all recorded wins, Witton remain in fourth place.

Witton | Roberts (GK), Gardner (Adigun 76), Devine, Wilson, Hickman, Williams, Haywood (Omotola 55), Owens, Hopley (Noon 83), Tames, Bauress Sub not used Garner (GK) Goals Hopley 38, Williams 64, Bauress 70, Omotola 71

Attendance 321