St Ives Town roared to their biggest win of the season to continue a spectacular start to 2016 today.

The Saints kept themselves in the thick of the Southern League Division One (Central) promotion race by thumping Arlesey Town at ProEdge Westwood Road.

The 6-0 drubbing featured a hat-trick from wideman Ben Seymour-Shove, two goals for striker Danny Watson and a Phil Draycott strike.

“Six goals and a clean sheet is almost a perfect performance,” said St Ives boss Ricky Marheineke.

“The conditions were tough and we handled them considerably better than Arlesey did.

“We looked a threat going forward and they played into our hands by trying to play too much football.

“A three-goal lead at half-time probably flattered us a bit, but we were completely dominant in the second half.

“Ben has hit some form at the right time in the season. It was good to see him scoring and creating goals while Danny delivered a performance as good as any you will see from a forward.”

Seymour-Shove pounced on a defensive mistake to make a 10th minute breakthrough before Draycott was the beneficiary of more calamitous defending from the visitors when doubling the lead with a cross which bounced into the net.

Watson got in on the act 10 minutes before the break after swapping passes with Seymour-Shove, who struck again himself just before the hour as three Saints players queued up to convert a Jordan Jarrold delivery.

Watson added his second midway through the half after racing onto a Steve Gentle clearance before Seymour-Shove completed his treble with seven minutes to go when rifling in a low shot after being picked out by a Peter Clark pass.

The bumper haul means St Ives have now scored 10 goals and conceded just one in two Division One (Central) games since the turn of the year.

They sit fifth in the table, but are just four points behind new leaders AFC Rushden & Diamonds ahead of a Tuesday clash against Bedford Town at ProEdge Westwood Road.

Marheineke added: “It was important we backed up the win at Chalfont the previous Saturday and it is also essential we follow up this result by beating Bedford.”