Stockton Town produced an excellent first half display to defeat Mickleover.
Michael Sweet opened the scoring inside ten minutes when he took advantage of a mishap at the back by the Mickleover defence.
The lead was doubled when Tom Coulthard poked home from close range.
The Anchors were three to the good when Mikey Roberts headed in from a corner.
Michael Dunwell named an unchanged line-up from the midweek win at Bamber Bridge to face a Mickleover side that were unbeaten on their travels so far this season.
Stockton started the game with a brilliant intensity and their pressing was rewarded when Josh Scott forced a mistake out of George Taft who played the ball straight to Sweet who made no mistake to convert.
Another good chance for Stockton came when a flowing move ended with a cross which was headed on goal by Roberts but it bounced over the bar.
Lewis King then went close when he worked his way into a good area but saw his left effort kept out by Yusuf Mersin in the Mickleover goal.
A second was added shortly before the half hour mark when Glen Butterworth’s corner was headed on goal by Adam Nicholson which was saved by Mersin before Coulthard poked home the rebound.
Stockton were proving too much for Mickleover, and less than ten minutes later they had a third when another delivery from Butterworth was glanced in by Roberts.
A fourth could have been added before half time when Mersin cleared the ball to Stephen Thompson but his dipping effort drifted wide of the target.
Half Time: Stockton Town 3-0 Mickleover FC
Mickleover searched for morsel to give them hope of getting back into the game. They had an opportunity when Charlie Hickingbottom headed wide from a corner.
Owen Gallacher came from the bench and he also made an instant impact when he was played in but he struck wide of the target.
Josh Baggs came close when a good move ended with him curling the ball over the bar.
Mickleover’s hopes of a consolation were dashed when Man of the Match Coulthard was on hand to acrobatically prevent substitute Dylan Edwards goal bound effort.
Stockton Town were unable to add a fourth. Their best chance to do so came when Coulthard headed across from a corner but Scott could only head over from close range.
Full Time: Stockton Town 3-0 Mickleover FC
Stockton Town: Harker, King, Baggs, Painter, Nicholson (Purewal 48’), Coulthard, Sweet (Fowler 60’), Butteworth, Scott (Spears 78’), Thompson (Birtles 68’), Roberts (Gallacher 57’)
Unused Subs: N/A
Mickleover: Mersin, Bennett, Ferron, Weston, Benson, Taft (Hickingbottom 14’), Wilson (Edwards 66’), Atkinson, Davidson-Miller, Dales (L.Carter 83’), Keane (J.Carter 76’)
Unused Subs: Moore
Goals: 1-0, 7 min, Sweet; 2-0, 28 min, Coulthard; 3-0, 37 min, Roberts
Attendance: 748
Words: James Cartwright
Photo: Harry Cook