BACUP BORO...5 RAMSBOTTOM UTD...2 NWCFL First Division

ANOTHER dismal performance from Ramsbottom, along with some questionable refereeing, led to a scoreline that reflected the pattern of the game.

The Rams fielded their strongest side, with only Gareth Gardiner unavailable through injury.

But standing in the way of a return to winning ways was a Bacup side that went on to outclass the Rams in every department, after the opening 20 minutes.

The first clear cut chance fell to Rams' Colin Bulwich, who managed to drag his shot inches wide of the upright.

This seemed to inspire Bacup, and after weathering some Rammy pressure they mounted a series of attacks which led to the opening goal on 21 minutes.

A misplaced clearance from the returning Jordan Rispen was pounced on by Darren Emmett, who tucked the ball beyond Rams' keeper Paul Horridge.

In became 2-0 on 36 minutes when Lee Wilkinson was allowed time and space to lob the stranded Horridge.

The referee then only cautioned Rhodri Giggs after a two-footed lunge when, perhaps, the colour of the card should have been red.

That tackle resulted in a number of reckless tackles from Rams players and Bacup scored their third on 42 minutes with Steve Stott netting a dubious penalty.

But it was to get even worse minutes later.

Chris Clark used his elbow on an opponent in front of the assistant referee and received an invitation to beat the queue to the baths, reducing the Rams to 10 men.

The Rams no doubt went for their half-time brew feeling pretty much like one of the balls lying on the edge of the pitch - deflated.

Manager Vince Overson obviously had a few choice words with his charges during the break and the Rams emerged for the second half fired up.

They got on the scoresheet on 55 minutes, but there was more than a little help from Bacup, with Paul Davies nodding a Robbie Smith free kick into his own net.

Wilkinson and Karl Stanley squandered further chances for the home side before substitute Paul Telfer broke free to slide the ball across to Giggs, who hit the empty net.

Rams' Mark Stewart battled away, with his long throws a constant source of danger, and eventually Matt Swailes got on the end of a Ged Walsh flick-on to divert the ball inside the post beyond Bacup's veteran keeper David Felgate, on-loan from Radcliffe Boro.

Telfer rounded off the scoring in the dying seconds when his firmly struck shot flew past Horridge and into the top corner of the net.