Third hat-trick of season for boss as Clay Cross eye title

Now they have four away games to go in their push for the title, including what could well be a decider against second-placed Retford, who are four points behind and have two games in hand, on Saturday, March 9.

The eclipse of bottom-of-the-table Thorne Colliery was the Millers’ 12th win from 13 home games, and was preceded by a minute’s silence after the deaths of two committee members the previous week.

Callam Lytham opened the floodgates in the 12th minute, meeting a cross by Josh Parfitt, and it wasn’t long before the lead was doubled by Lynam, who drilled home after the lively Parfitt had unselfishly pulled the ball back from a cross by Josh Brown.

Five minutes later, the game was all but over as Josh Scully took full advantage of a weak offside call from the visitors and planted his shot neatly past helpless ‘keeper, Richard Watson.

It was 4-0 shortly after the break when Lynam netted his second with a diving header, and there was no respite for Thorne, despite some smart saves from Watson. In the closing stages, Alex Hewitt curled in number five and Lynam completed his treble.