LONDON (AFP) - Dean Ashton's first goal since the 2006 FA Cup final was the icing on the cake as West Ham strolled to a 3-0 win over Middlesbrough that lifted them into the top half of the table.

A Lee Bowyer volley two minutes into the second half was followed by an own goal by Luke Young five minutes later before Ashton put last season's injury woes behind him with a poacher's finish just after the hour mark.

The opening period had finished goalless but was not without incident, Ashton having a goal disallowed while Boro's former Arsenal forward Jeremie Aliadiere saw an effort come back off the post.

Frenchman Aliadiere limped off soon afterwards and there was also an early end to the involvement of Hammers striker Craig Bellamy.

Ashton was looking set to break into the England team when he suffered a broken ankle in training before the start of last season.

And the striker appeared determined to put himself back in the spotlight, taking to the field with bright red boots and bleached hair before running on to Bellamy's pass to find the net after only 12 minutes.

A linesman's flag ensured the effort did not stand and Boro should have gone ahead shortly afterwards after Mido sent Aliadiere clear. But the French striker had to watch in disbelief as his shot beat goalkeeper Robert Green only to come back off the post.

West Ham took the lead inside a minute of the restart, Bowyer finishing off a slick move he had started with a deft finish from just inside the box.

Five minutes later the lead was doubled when Carlton Cole's pass was deflected past Mark Schwartzer by the hapless Young.

Boro might have got back into the match if Tuncay Sanli had been able to finish off another good through ball from Mido. The Turkish striker sent his attempted lob on to the top of the crossbar and was denied again soon afterwards when Green got down smartly at his near post.

In truth however West Ham had played by far the better football and Ashton's tireless running was rewarded when he finished off a sweeping move by connecting with Matt Etherington's cross at the back post.

There was still time for Tuncay to fail again in another one-on-one with Green and a miserable afternoon for the Turk was summed up when he had a shot cleared off the line by Lucas Neill.