SCARBOROUGH increased their goals galore plunder to 54 with a 4-1 routing of promotion rivals Exeter.

The McCain Stadium dwellers racked up their third four-score haul of the season to put themselves second only to runaway division three leaders Notts County in the scoring stakes.

And with the goals for column effectively worth a point in the final shake-up, Boro's top six position has again assumed a healthy hue.

The Macclesfield hiccup was consigned to distant memory just a touch after 3.06pm on Saturday, when Paul Heckingbottom's first time cross crept in off a post via the head of Michael McElhatton.

McElhatton, returning from a two-game suspension, supplied life and soul to the Seasiders' seemingly under-strength midfield, which was denied the talents of Ian Snodin through injury.

In tandem with tireless dervish Ben Worrall, he created the platform for a far greater margin of victory than the hosts finally recorded.

Meanwhile, new recruit Tony Elliott gave a goalkeeping performance the club were crying out for, showing authority in the air, cast-iron certainty with his kicking and sound shot-stopping.

The 28-year-old custodian smothered the early threat of hefty striker John Williams, diving at his feet after Darren Rowbotham's pass caught out Heckingbottom.

But a brace of Steve Brodie goals either side of half-time book-ended a purple patch for the Seasiders.

An awful mix-up between Shaun Gale and Billy Clark allowed Brodie to steal the ball before steering a shot across Ashley Bayes' goal and in off an upright.

Exeter boss Peter Fox made a double change at the interval but Brodie's seventh goal of the season curtailed any comeback talk.

The former Sunderland striker showed exemplary close control in taking Worrall's pass, before heading for the by-line and beating Bayes from the tightest of angles.

The visitors were punished for substitute Matthew Hare's reckless challenge on Gareth Williams on 55 minutes. Hare was booked, as was Rowbotham for disputing the caution, and from the free kick Williams executed an overhead kick for his 14th goal of the season.

The Seasiders went in determined search of a fifth goal and their most emphatic League victory but, instead, the indifferent Paul Conway gifted Rowbotham his 19th goal of the campaign.

Conway, after declining several opportunities to orbit the ball to safety, lost possession to Rowbotham then brought him down, the striker sending Elliott the wrong way from 12 yards.

Said ecstatic Boro manager Mick Wadsworth: "It was the only way we could respond after Macclesfield. It was a terrific all round performance. We did not have any shirkers, we had 13 who really did their bit.

"I am delighted for Steve Brodie. He is the most honest player one could hope to have. Elliott looked excellent.

"He got us right out of the mire with the one-on-one with Williams. Things like that can change the course of a game."

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