FC HALIFAX Town boss Neil Aspin wants to keep striker Alex Titchiner – if he can.

The 21-year-old, who is on loan from League II Fleetwood Town, scored a hat-trick as the Shaymen thumped a struggling Droylsden side 4-1 at home to boost their Blue Sqaure North promotion hopes as they moved up to fourth place.

“I’d like him to be here all season, but that’s not really up to me,” said Aspin.

“He’s certainly someone that we’ve watched before and liked.

“You can’t blame any player if they go to a League club and hopefully he’s going to do well there, but I’d like to keep him as long as we could.”

The contest did not spark into life until the second half when Titchiner put Halifax in the lead.

He then doubled his and Town’s tally after latching onto Danny Lowe’s through ball.

Droylsden got themselves back into the game as James Ellison headed home from Carlos Logan’s cross, but Dale Johnson killed off the hopes of his former club with a fine run and finish.

In the dying minutes Titchiner completed his hat trick when he raced onto a Johnson flick to slide past the keeper.

The Shaymen face Altrincham at The Shay next weekend in the FA Trophy’s first round.