STAND'S bid to tie up the NWCL Division Two title as quickly as possible took another step nearer after their rout of Staffordshire side Norton.

Only Alsager Town now offer any real threat but Stand have plenty of games in hand.

The Ewood Bridge side opened the scoring when skipper Steve Stott stole in at the back post to head home Lee Williamson's pinpoint cross after only 12 minutes.

Ten minutes later Micky Wolstenholme picked out tormentor Neil Dawes who opened his account.

And they made it three in injury time when Chris Denham raced on to Steve Carrolls' through ball and the young striker put away his chance.

Steve Davis made it four just after the restart when he reacted first to a corner and Dawes then completed his hat trick, with two similar strikes. First he dealt with his own rebound and hammered home the ball after Grange had saved on 50 minutes, then he followed up Denham's strike 15 minutes later in the same ruthless fashion to make it six.

But for one Latics player it just wasn't his day.

Lee Williamson had shots saved, he hit the post and finally he saw Grange save his spot kick after a hand ball with five minutes remaining.

STAND ATH...6 NORTON UTD...0