Wanderers were cautious of complacency as they faced bottom side Ashridge Park, having seen their opponents shock Royal Hunt three weeks ago.

The Blues were missing Clint Falcus, Jamie Ryall, Ian Griffiths and Andy Corless, as well as long-term injury victim Phil Soane.  Matthew Elliott made the journey to cover for Corless at centre-back, with Lewis Trusty starting on the right of midfield.

Wanderers were slow to start, although Ashridge were offering no real threat.  The scrappy opening then gave way to some good football as the Blues started to pass the ball around with confidence.

Paul Martin and Tom Soane were full of running and gave the Ashridge defence a torrid time, despite this the breakthrough was far from immediate as Wanderers created little in the way of openings.

Finally after twenty minutes, Wanderers had a goal to celebrate.  The ball had been cleared to Trusty outside of the box and his snap-shot sliced to the right where Scott Ford picked the ball up.  Ford then delivered a fine cross to Martin who stooped to head the ball into the corner of the net.

As Ashridge heads dropped, Wanderers grew in confidence.  Five minutes later Anthony Prior played a thirty yard pass to put Martin clear, and his run was only stopped as the Blues' forward was brought down by the Ashridge 'keeper.  After a yellow card was shown, Prior stepped up to score from the spot.

A third goal looked inevitable and duly arrived ten minutes later.  Elliott cleared the ball out of defence and Soane and Martin exchanged several passes before the latter finished coolly with a shot over the goalkeeper from ten yards.

Just before the interval, Wanderers were given a reminder that they had to keep their composure.  A free-kick from the edge of the box tested Allan Mellor, who stretched well to turn the ball wide for a corner. 

In the second half it looked to be a matter of how many Wanderers would score, not whether they would.  Five minutes in and they came close to goal number four, as Prior's forty yard free-kick was tipped over by the Ashridge 'keeper.

Then they came closer, Tom Mansfield's well-struck shot was saved and as Martin hit the rebound in, the referee signalled for offside.

A few minutes later and Mansfield repeated his feat of scoring against Ashridge in the previous meeting.  There seemed little danger as Mansfield's tame strike from twenty yards headed towards goal, but the 'keeper fumbled the effort into the bottom corner.

On the hour mark Wanderers hit a fifth goal.  Prior's corner to the near-post was hit straight back to him, and he whipped in a dangerous cross for Dan van der Laan O'Donnell to power a header high into the net.

To their credit Ashridge showed character, and surprised the Blues with two strikes in ten minutes.  The first came as Wanderers were caught out on their right-hand side, and Mellor was beaten from close range.  Then to Wanderers' disappointment, the Ashridge forward ran unchallenged to shoot into the bottom corner.

Wanderers' sole substitute Edward Townsend was then introduced for the last twenty minutes.

The Ashridge goals prompted the Blues to raise their game and they restored their five goal margin with two strikes in the last ten minutes.

Tom Soane was again unselfish as he passed for Prior to turn in the box and finish with a left-footed strike into the net.

Wanderers then launched a counter-attack with five minutes remaining, Prior chipping over the last man for Martin to run on and complete a deserved hat-trick with a confident finish.

The icing on the cake nearly came with the last kick of the game, the ball was cleared to Blues' captain Chris Orbell who struck a first-time dipping shot against the crossbar from thirty yards out.

This convincing win takes Wanderers a step closer to the league title, and with four games remaining it is hoped that this form can continue.

TEAM: Allan Mellor, Chris Hillsdon, Dan van der Laan O'Donnell, Matthew Elliott, Chris Orbell, Lewis Trusty, Scott Ford, Tom Mansfield, Anthony Prior, Tom Soane, Paul Martin.