A hat-trick from Brody Robertson, alongside a Marc Cooper and Alex Flett strike was enough to see the Owls to victory.

Marcus Newell made five changes to the starting line-up from their victory over Louth Town last time out in the Lincs Senior Trophy. Brad Beattie was replaced by Damien Steer in goal, whilst Daniel Grant, Jack Debnam, Jack Richardson and Louis Grant where all rest and replaced by Lawrence Heward, Darren Hanslip, Brody Robertson and Jack Barlow.

The game started off very tentatively with both sides struggling to penetrate the others defence in the opening exchanges.

The anticipating crowd did not have to wait long though for the first chance of the game as Flett side-footed just inches wide of the mark following a low Oglesby cross.

Just three minutes later, with six minutes on the clock, Robertson latched onto a long through ball but the keeper came rushing out and palmed the ball to safety as Robertson was about to strike. The linesman on the near side though, had adjudged the keeper to have handled the ball outside the area. This left the referee with no option but to issue him with a card, but instead of red it was yellow as the official said that there was a covering defending on his way back, much to the disbelief of the crowd.

From the free-kick, just outside the area, Liam Dickens fired narrowly wide of the mark with the keeper scrambling to ensure it did not go into the net.

The ball was in the back of the net in the 11th minute when Craig Haythorne thought he had put the visitors in front but the linesman had flagged for offside in the build-up as he had sweetly put the ball home from 30 yards.

Just four minutes later though, the scoresheet could be finally written on in pen as Robertson chipped in a deft shot from just outside the area to give the Owls a deserved lead.

With the Owls pushing forward for a second, it was Maltby who struck back against the run of play. Gary Hibbert floated in a 30 yards free-kick which somehow went over the head of Steer and into the net.

The goal gave Maltby some confidence and had it not been for a great challenge by Richard Peck inside the box, Samuel Jones would of scored after he danced his way past two Owls players.

Chances kept falling for the visitors but they could not be converted. Firstly, with just over 30 minutes played, they broke with pace which left the Owls short at the back. With 3 on 3, Maltby failed to capitalise as a lose ball was well cleared. Then Haythorne shot straight at Steer following a slack clearance.

Moments later, Maltby keeper Benjamin Scott, making his debut for the visitors produced a world class save to deny Robertson his second goal of the game.

It was all in vein as just 45 seconds later, Barlow closed down Reece Wesley, then back helled it past the defender, sprinted into the box and squared it to Robertson who fired home much to the delight of the home fans.

With the Owls back in the lead, they did not let up and just 8 minutes later, in a similar move to the second goal, the lead was extended. Barlow once against was the catalyst for the goal after his good work on the wing and finished off by leading scorer Cooper in clinical fashion.

With only seconds of the half remaining, the scoreline should of been even more comprehensive but as the ball was laid off by Flett into the path of Oglesby he could only fire wide of the target.

The half-time whistle was blown seconds later by the referee giving the Owls a comfortable lead at the break.

With no changes during the break, the second half commenced in a similar fashion to the first. Both sides struggling to create anything effective in the opening exchanges.

It was however, Flett who took the game by the scruff of the neck, picking the ball up just inside his own half. He sprinted past two players and unleashed a shot which narrowly missed the target.

At the other end, Brian Cusworth nearly pulled a goal back but his left footed curling effort went the wrong side of the post with Steer stranded.

With the half only six minutes old, the scoreline was further enhanced as Flett drilled the ball home from 16 yards out following a short corner. This was the midfielders 10th goal in 82 senior appearances.

Confidence was growing and with this game the Owls best spell of the game. They passed the balled around well, retaining possession and pressuring the Maltby defence. This was evident as Robertson managed to collect a sloppy pass and sprint clear. His shot trickled home past the wayward keeper who was out of position to complete his first hat-trick.

Immediately following the goal, Robertson was subbed for Louis Grant, making his 24th appearance of the season.

Chances continued to fall for both sides as the fog loomed over the Bradley Community Stadium. First, Haythorne shot inches wide when he only had Steer to beat. Then Flett made another superb mazy run but his goal bound shot was tipped around the post for a corner. Moments later, Sam Forster missed the target from a free kick just 20 yards out.

The Owls made their last two substitutions in the 67 minute as they replaced Luke Mascall and Lawrence Heward with Daniel Grant and Debnam.

As the clock ticked down, the Owls seemed to not be satisfied with the scoreline and pushed forward. Hanslip went close, shooting just over the bar after Cooper saw his shot blocked in the 74th minute. Then Barlow saw his flick brush the far post following a Louis Grant drilled cross.

The shots kept raining down on the Maltby goal as Debnam then went close, followed by Cooper then Cooper headed just wide following a fantastic cross by Louis Grant in a free flowing move.

With the game coming to a close, both sides struggled to create any further chances in the last five minutes as the floodlights beamed onto the pitch. The “man in the middle” blew for full-time as the Owls recorded their 7th straight league win and have climbed up to sixth in the table, with games in hand over those teams above.