WITTON Albion sit seventh in the table at Christmas after registering their best away win for a decade in the Northern Premier League’s top-flight.

They put six goals past woeful back-markers Sutton Coldfield Town, opponents they have beaten now in both meetings this season.

It was 4-0 by the break.

The visitors led inside 10 minutes when Steven Tames’ shot struck fellow front-runner Rob Hopley on its way past goalkeeper Nicky Draper.

Sutton Coldfield rallied, and went closest to a leveller with an effort that bounced off the crossbar.

Witton suffered a blow when stand-in captain Nick Ryan was forced to leave the field early with a serious facial injury inflicted by Reece Webb that escaped sanction from referee Matthew Law.

The match official’s afternoon also ended early when he succumbed to a strain, and a replacement linesman was recruited from among the spectators at Coles Lane.

Albion assumed control again before half-time, scoring three times in a four-minute spell.

Tames stroked in a spot-kick after Zak Martin was punished for handball, then went close with a clever attempt that clipped a post.

Will Jones claimed a double to increase Albion’s lead, flicking past Draper from Owen Dale’s cross to make it 3-0.

And he finished emphatically a second time after leaving the hosts’ defence trailing in his wake.

Carl Macauley’s men did not let up, and Dale fired low into the net five minutes into the second period after creating space for a shot.

A sixth goal arrived on 62 minutes when Dale curled in off an upright at the end of a move that involved Tames, substitute Micah Evans and Tom Owens.

The visitors relaxed, and their opponents celebrated a consolation when Danny O’Callaghan netted from distance with time running out.

Tyler Little then fired across custodian Calvin Hare to make it 6-2.

Sutton Coldfield | Draper (GK), Lyttle, Martin, Webb, Smith, Kelly, Steele, O'Callaghan, Howarth (Richards 79), Birch (Howell 54), Singh (Flint 60). Subs not used Probert, Beresford Goals O’Callaghan 85, Lyttle 87 Booked Martin (handball), Steele (foul)

Witton | Hare (GK), Haywood, Devine (McKenna 54), Wilson, Ryan (Evans 25), Foley, Dale, Owens, Hopley, Jones (Lingouba 76), Tames Sub not used Neild (GK) Goals Hopley 10, Tames 36 (penalty), Jones 39, 40 Dale 50, 62

Referee Matthew Law

Attendance 168

Match report by Phil Chadwick