BOROUHGHBRIDGE 2 ROTHWELL ATHLETIC 8.
An abject home performance left Bridge embarrassed and humiliated by a team whom six weeks ago they were looking at to enhance their goal difference. Playing a 3-5-2 formation and against the wind Bridge went a goal down after only three minutes when Andy Layton missed a header and Tom France's wind assisted chip totally deceived Alastair Hogg. Chris Stephenson brought a decent save out of Andy Hitchin on 10 minutes but generally it was one way traffic as Rothwell cut through the confounded Bridge players at will. Hogg did produce two fine saves only to be beaten again on 24 minutes by Andy Maddren who brushed aside a challenge from Danny Webster to slot home. Three minutes later it got worse as Rothwell increased their lead when Hogg failed to deal with a Jarrod Wallace corner. The keeper then denied Wallace with an exceptional save five minutes before the break but a minute later the visitors cut through a static Bridge team to leave Wallace with an easy tap in. The cracks were now of cavernous proportion and on the stroke of half time Wallace completed his hat trick with a 20 yard strike that flashed by Hogg. Even though the wind abated slightly after the interval it was still Rothwell who dominated and two minutes into the half Tom France added his second and 10 minutes later Wallace added his fourth, cutting in from the left, to hit another screamer into the top corner. From Bridge's best chance of the half Uffindall produced a good save out of Hitchin before heading home a consolation goal on 77 minutes. Rothwell hadn't finished and Andy Hall converted a penalty 7 minutes from time with Ben Darville late goal of little solace to a dispirited home side.
MOM C Stephenson