FIVE-NIL to the Collieries is becoming a familiar refrain down at Alder House.

After back-to-back 5-0 wins away to Oldham Borough and Widnes, Michael Clegg’s men made it three in a row on Saturday – this time on their own patch, with Hanley Town the victims – to storm back to the top of the North West Counties League First Division table.

Given the go-ahead following a 9.30am pitch inspection and with Danny Taberner receiving the NWCFL goalkeeper of the month award, Collieries started the game confidently and brightly and took just two minutes to open their account.

Mark and Nathan Battersby were involved in the build up – the latter supplying the cross for skipper Brad Cooke to convert and give the visitors a taste of what was to come.

The in-form Taberner maintained his clean sheet record as he kept Colls in front with a vital save in the 14th minute and seconds later Cooke deservedly got his second, tapping in after Hanley keeper Bradley Moorhead palmed out Mark Battersby’s shot.

Five minutes later Clegg’s men were three-up, Mark Ayres scoring from the spot after Moorhead had brought down Mark Battersby and that was how it stayed at half time.

Seven minutes into the second period, top scorer Mark Battersby – influential in the first three goals – scored Colls’ fourth, getting the last touch after Kris Holt’s cross had taken a number of deflections in the Hanley box.

And he was on hand again on 63 minutes getting on the end of a cross from substitute Jordan Cover to get a touch ahead of Hanley defender for his second and Colls’ fifth, Chances were spurned at both ends – Hanley substitute Josh Hall coming closest when he his shot came back off Taberner’s post in the 76th minute.

With Cammell Laird’s game at Darwen postponed, the win put Colls two points clear of the Birkenhead club at the top of the table with two games in hand ahead of Saturday’s game at Eccleshall.

Sixth-placed Atherton LR, who had no fixture last weekend, are at home to Oldham Borough.