ALTRINCHAM didn't know whether to laugh or cry after a night of high-scoring action.

The Robins were rampant, warming up for Saturday's big FA Cup clash with Lancaster with an 8-1 UniBond Cheshire Senior Cup quarter-final victory at Woodley.

But the bad news for Alty was Droylsden's embarrassing 7-0 home UniBond premier division defeat by leaders Burton, which has taken Nigel Clough's side nine points clear of the third-placed Moss Lane outfit.

Lee Poland led the Altrincham goal spree, scoring four to give boss Bernard Taylor a timely reminder of his finishing power.

Steve Finney, recalled to the Robins' squad in response to mounting injury problems, grabbed a couple. Anthony Hargreaves and Ian Craney hit the other goals, while Woodley's response came from Andy Watson.

Droylsden were simply outclassed by Burton and the scale of the defeat must place another question-mark over boss Dave Pace's future.

A Phil Denney hat-trick helped Ashton United sink Witton 4-2 in division one in Benny Phillips's first game in charge of the Cheshire club.

Leigh waltzed through to the Lancashire FA Marsden Trophy second-round with a 4-2 win at troubled Chorley, while Castleton Gabriels crashed 7-0 to Accrington.

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