IN a season of uncertainty, Witton Albion have still had Danny Andrews to rely on.

The wide man sunk high-flyers Glossop with a stunning hat-trick, providing the shine in a performance that delivered for his side a sixth win in their past eight league games.

This was a fourth straight, making it their best run in close to three years.

And Andrews, as he so often has been in that period, made the difference.

The 29-year-old increased his goal tally for the season to 18 during a contest the hosts might have trailed.

Jamie Rainford, one of three former Albion players in the Hillmen’s starting line-up, was unlucky to see his scuffed shot from Tom Bailey’s low cross hit the woodwork in the first minute.

When he did find the net, after meeting Jason Carey’s flick-on, a linesman flagged for offside to stall his celebration.

Witton woke up, and Rob Hopley’s header hit the crossbar after he reached Jake Parker’s centre before goalkeeper Luke Pilling.

And the home team were thwarted again when Billy Reeves’ drive, deflected by a defender, rapped the bar after attempts from Tom Schofield and then Parker had both been blocked.

They took the lead on 36 minutes, when Andrews arced a perfect free kick into the top corner from 20 yards after Glossop captain Kieran Lugsden had clumsily tripped Schofield.

Carl Macauley’s men were better after the break, though they were grateful for custodian Andy Firth’s intervention to deny Rainford early in the second period.

Jamie Matthews improvised a cute effort with his heel when he had his back to goal, but Pilling was untroubled.

However the Glossop number one was beaten again by a shot direct from a set-piece with a quarter of an hour left, this time after Andrews went with force rather than finesse.

And he kept calm to roll in a third goal with two minutes left after Schofield steered a perfectly-weighted pass into his path to launch an Albion counter.

Witton | Firth (GK), Gardner, Dawson, Wilson, Ellison (Carden 70), Reeves, Jake Parker, Schofield, Hopley, Matthews, Danny Andrews (Main 90) Subs not used Garner (GK), Parle, Titchiner Goals Andrews 36, 74, 88 Booked Reeves (foul)

Glossop | Pilling (GK), Kelvin Lugsden, Russell (Young 82), Martin Parker, Barnes, Martyn Andrews, Carey (White 61), Rainford, Bailey, Kieran Lugsden, Mulholland (Moran 61) Sub not used Smart

Referee Andrew Jackson

Attendance 353