WITTON Albion inflicted the heaviest league defeat on Shaw Lane since the Barnsley outfit changed their name six years ago.

Their reward is to close a gap to the Northern Premier League top-flight’s promotion play-offs places to just three points.

So emphatic was their victory that Carl Macauley’s men took mercy on their guests after captain Rob Hopley had increased their lead to 4-0 shortly after the interval.

Shaw Lane breathed a sigh of relief as early as the third minute after Tom Owens appeared to be felled inside the penalty area, although referee Ed Duckworth was not persuaded.

A breakthrough arrived on 19 minutes though when Matty Devine, on his 73rd appearance in Witton’s colours, scored his first goal for the club to punish a defensive error.

It was 2-0 after half an hour when Owen Dale, whose loan from Crewe Alexandra has been extended until the end of the campaign, squeezed a shot past goalkeeper Eddie Wilczynski following James Foley’s fantastic pass.

Hopley sent an effort against the crossbar before a third goal arrived in the moments before half time when Steven Tames’ weakly-struck effort found its way into the net.

He now has 22 goals for the season.

Hopley’s strike early in the second period added gloss, and put a sizeable dent into the Ducks’ hopes of claiming the Premier Division title.

“Our performance ticked every box,” said Macauley afterwards.

“We scored four goals, created numerous other chances and kept a clean-sheet – it was a fantastic display.”

Witton | Hare (GK), McKenna, Devine, Humphreys (Ryan 78), Wilson, Foley, Dale (Evans 74), Owens, Hopley, Haywood (Paul Williams 80), Tames Subs not used Gardner, Neild (GK) Goals Devine 19, Dale 32, Tames 43, Hopley 49 Booked Haywood, Humphreys

Shaw Lane | Wilczynski (GK), Lugsden, Serrant, Picton, Pollard, Abadaki, Byrne (Clayton 62), Norris (Brown-Hill 56), Chilaka (Reeves 61), Rothery, Tyler Williams Subs not used Gordon, Knight Booked Byrne, Abadaki

Referee Ed Duckworth

Attendance 201

Additional reporting by Callum Bradke