Boro smash eight at Queensgate

Carl Stewart led the way for Boro with a superb treble as Steve Kittrick's men leapt to the top of the table.

Boro fielded the same starting 11 in consecutive league games for the first time this season, a consistency that paid off in the very first minute.

Adam Bolder floated a free-kick into the box and Matty Turnbull flicked it neatly past a stranded Liam Flynn to open the scoring.

It should have been 2-0 with five minutes on the clock when Lamin Colley was sent through on goal, but Flynn made a superb one-handed stop from the frontman's low drive.

Flynn wasn't the only keeper in action, as Boro's Jordan Porter was forced to save at the second attempt after Dave Short broke the offside trap.

Short crept in one again from the right, but dragged his shot wide of the target when he probably should have scored.

Colley went close again on the half-hour, cutting in from the right, his goal-bound strike was kept out by Flynn's legs.

Flynn was powerless when, soon after this, Cameron Murray collected in the centre circle, jigged through a challenge and let fly with a sweet strike that nestled in the top corner of the net.

After another good opportunity for Mossley's Short, Boro completed a three-goal first-half burst just before the break for the second consecutive home game.

It was a mixture of fortune and persistence, as Igiehon closed down Flynn's clearance and the ball rebounded into the goal.

Boro hadn't finished when the new half got underway, with Turnbull adding his second.

The centre-back underlined his credentials at set-pieces as he rose superbly to power a header into the top corner of the Mossley net.

Igiehon could have netted a fifth on the hour, but he managed to divert Stewart's centre wide of the target from all of three yards.

Striker Igiehon soon made amends though, teasing a delightful ball over the top that picked out Stewart, Boro's top scorer, rounding the keeper and slotting home.

Kittrick's men made it six of the best, just minutes later, after what looked to be an inspired substitution.

Having just arrived on the pitch seconds later, Craig Nelthorpe smashed home an absolute screamer from range with his first touch.

The magnificent seven followed this with 15 minutes to go. Turnbull was unlucky when his header was saved from another set-piece, but Stewart pounced and finished off for his second of the afternoon.

Stewart completed his treble with five minutes left on the clock after the Mossley defence parted once again and Stewart, one of three Boro players through on Flynn, comfortably rolled home.

Mossley finally showed some fight when Tom Pratt battled free, but his shot was headed off the line by Dave Merris.

The Manchester outfit had been well and truly taken apart by that point, as Boro cruised to the win and top spot.