Four goal Byrne sees off Wootton

Sileby moved seven points clear at the top of Division One but only after lowly Blue Cross put up spirited resistance.

Scott Sinclair's dead ball delivery gave Rangers a few concerns early on, creating chances for Jonny Richens and Courtney Boughton and also testing Darren Watts from a free kick.

Rob Foster miscued horribly wide for Sileby with the goal gaping, while for Wootton, Ryan Smith's volley was narrowly off target.

Rangers took a 38th minute lead when a long clearance by Darren Watts found Michael Byrne on the right and he left a couple of defenders in his wake before firing in off the crossbar.

Wootton levelled two minutes before the break when Danny Marlow handled Adam Jackson's ball in from the left, Sinclair netting from the spot.

On resumption Byrne quickly restored the home lead, cutting in from the left to shoot home, and he netted again on 53 minutes. Jon Crockett's through ball saw Blue Cross keeper Robert Hankey beat Byrne to the ball, but a miskick by the custodian presented the former Desborough striker with a tap in for his third.

Wootton were back in the contest after 57 minutes when Smith outjumped Watts to glance in a Sinclair free kick into the box.

David Glass struck the foot of the post from distance as Rangers took control, and the home side were awarded a penalty after 74 minures when Charlie Standish brought down Marlow, but Byrne fired the penalty over the crossbar.

The win was sealed after 80 minutes when Mark Redding found space to beat Hankey at his near post.

Byrne had the last word, outpacing the defence to convert Dan Spaughton's quickly taken free kick.

Sileby: Watts, Marlow, Glass, Spaughton, Hewitt (Chilton), Cassidy, Boot (Richardson), Crockett, Byrne, Foster (Slinn), Redding.