And the margin of victory would have been far greater but for an impressive display from visiting keeper Andrew Young who produced a string of fine saves, especially in the first half when the Shaymen threatened to cut loose.

See the slide show from the game.

The result was never in doubt after Craig Nelthorpe scored in the 22nd minute to add to Adam Quinn's seventh-minute opener.

And a further two strikes in three second half minutes from Jon Shaw and Tom Sharpe ended the game as a contest.

The only disappointments were an injury time penalty that gave Bishops a consolation goal and the attendance of just 728 - the lowest gate of the season.

The Shaymen could not have asked for a better start as they looked to make home advantage count.

Sharpe almost opened the scoring from a Nelthorpe cross, only to be denied by the keeper.

But from the resulting corner, delivered by skipper Tom Kearney, Quinn glanced home a header to set them on their way.

There was a scare when Roy Essandoh went through five minutes later at the other end only to screw his left foot shot wide of the target.

But when Quinn, Shaw and Lewis Killeen combined to create a crossing opportunity for Rob Scott, Nelthorpe stooped at the far post to make it 2-0.

It was the end of the first half scoring, but it was by no means the end of the pressure on the Bishops' goal.

Nelthorpe almost had a second within a minute of his first, his cheeky back heel, after more good work from Shaw and Killeen, taking a deflection for a corner.

And Shaw rose magnificently on the half hour to meet a Matt Doughty cross only for Young to send the goalbound ball wide of the target when he stretched out his left arm.

Nelthorpe cleverly lifted the ball into the box for Shaw moments later but he was again denied by the keeper who reacted smartly after the shot took a deflection off a defender.

Nelthorpe's shot from distance was gathered in by Young who saved well again in the 36th minute from Shaw's thunderous first time left foot effort.

The visitors showed brief resistance when Ahmed Deen, then Greg Pearson managed to get into shooting positions, but on each occasion Adam, Legzdins was able to save at his near post.

And the first half ended with another Town chance, Doughty, Nelthorpe and Shaw combining before Killeen let one go from 15 yards only for Young to save again.

There was more of the same after the break with Quinn heading another Kearney corner wide before Simon Heslop hammered in a shot that Young tipped onto the post and wide.

But the continuing pressure finally told in the 53rd minute when Killeen was rewarded for his persistence on halfway with a chance to run at the visitors' defence before releasing Shaw who waited until Young went to ground before lifting the ball into the net.

Three minutes later, Nelthorpe delivered the perfect corner from the right and Sharp rose well to get a head to it for Town's fourth.

That gave manager Chris Wilder the breathing space to make changes and both Andy Campbell and Darryn Stamp were handed the chance to make an impression in the final half hour.

Campbell had only been on for eight minutes when his chance to bag a first goal since his return from injury came along.

He latched onto Legzdins' long clearance from the back and beat the last defender, but was unable to get round Young who dived bravely at the frontman's feet.

With the game won, Town stepped off the gas and will have been disappointed that they were unable to keep a clean sheet.

But Bishop's Stortford had to rely on a penalty for their sole consolation.

Pearson went on the kind of mazy run his reputation suggested he had in him and was eventually brought tumbling down by an injudicious Quinn challenge in the area.

Deen, a scorer from a free kick in the first game between the sides, gave Legzdins no chance from the spot.

Star Shayman
Fatherhood appears to suit loanee Craig Nelthorpe who scored for the second game in a row to put Town firmly in the driving seat at the Shay last night,.
But he did so much more than score, tormenting the Bishop's Stortford defence for a 75 minutes before the game was safe and manager Chris Wilder was able to rest him for the battles ahead.
His lifted pass for Jon Shaw in the first half showed great awareness while his corner for Tom Sharpe to score Town's fourth was pinpoint accurate.
Shaw could easily have had a hat-trick but for a couple of superb saves from Bishops keeper Andrew Young.
In the end he had to settle for one more goal to add to his impressive season's tally and it was a beauty.
It had all the hallmarks of a goal by striker in form as he waited and waited for Young to commit himself before lifting the ball over the keeper's body.
Adam Quinn played through the pain of a troublesome Achilles but put in a fine display in a defence that rarely looked troubled and he thoroughly deserved his early goal that settled the nerves.
Nelthorpe takes the three points on offer in our season long competition with Shaw two and Quinn one.

Match Facts
Halifax Town: Legzdins, Scott, Doughty, Quinn, Sharpe, Kearney, Heslop, Bailey, Nelthorpe (Torpey 75), Killeen (Campbell 60), Shaw (Stamp 60). Subs (not used): Mawson, Atherton.
Booked: None, Sent-off: None
Goals: Quinn 7, Nelthorpe 22, Shaw 53, Sharpe 56

Bishop's Stortford: Young, Jones, Lunan, Stanbrook (Mason 66), Taylor, Langer (Fazakerley 73), Edwards, Deen, Champion, Pearson, Essandoh (Gaisei 77). Subs (not used): Welsh, Goodacre.
Booked: None, Sent-off: None
Goal: Deen 90
Attendance: 728
Referee: P Curry (Northumberland

Player Points
Jon Shaw 31, Simon Heslop 19, Tom Kearney 19, Andy Campbell 13, Lewis Killeen 13, Anthony Griffith 12, Steve Torpey 12, Steve Bushell 10, Jake Wright 10, Daryl Taylor 8, Rob Scott 7, Matt Doughty 6, Cortez Belle 5, Danny Forrest 5, Adam Legzdins 4, Craig Nelthorpe 4, Craig Mawson 3, Nathan Joynes 2, Adam Quinn 1, Darryn Stamp 2, Ryan Toulson 2, Greg Young 2, Peter Atherton 1.

You Say
The pitch might be wet but chris wilder walks on water - one step nearer wembley cw one step nearer being a htfc legend - the taxman

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