RAMSBOTTOM UNITED 4, BACUP BORO 0: An awesome display of attacking football from the Rams sent the home side on their way to a crushing victory over local rivals Bacup Borough.

In truth the visitors produced a poor performance despite fielding a team including former Manchester United youngster Ben Thornley and former Welsh international goalkeeper David Felgate, previously with Bolton.

However, despite the star studded line-up they were unable to come to terms with the fast flowing football adopted by Derek Egan's men.

Egan was able to name an unchanged line-up following their impressive result against St.Helens and the players did not disappoint.

Rumours about Bacup manager Brent Peters wanting to move elsewhere in search of a fresh challenge will surely increase as the pressure will mount after such a woeful display from his team.

The Rams got off to a flying start and found themselves a goal to the good after only six minutes, when Ewan Purcell carried on from where he left off on Saturday by firing home a fierce drive into the bottom corner, following a short corner routine involving Matt Edgington and Matt Walsh.

Adam Cook then stormed down the left wing and delivered an inch perfect cross for Bernard Morley, but Felgate was on hand to pull off a world class save to the dismay of the Ramsbottom midfielder.

The hosts continued to find space in the Bacup defence and with Cook and Edgington beating the fullbacks with ease it looked certain that Felgate was going to have a busy evening.

The lead was doubled on 11 minutes when an exquisite cross field pass found Edgington and after taking a couple of touches he unleashed an unstoppable drive beyond the outstretched hand of Felgate into the bottom corner.

The two goal lead in the opening minutes was no more than the Rams deserved and the picture of Peters stood bewildered in the away dugout was a clear reflection of Bacup's performance.

Bacup were being restricted to sporadic attacks and whenever Thornley was given the ball he was closed down immediately, giving the former league player no time to show what he is capable of.

Minutes before the half time interval the away side were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box which Darren Emmett failed to hit the target with.

Moments later the Rams broke downfield and again Cook was involved by providing another incisive cross that Morley duly converted at the back post, making up for his earlier misfortune.

This was a well deserved goal for a player who epitomised the work rate in the Ramsbottom side as he ran the length of the field following the free-kick to be on the end of Cook's cross.

The 3-0 scoreline at half-time almost sealed the three points for the Rams, but they knew that the visitors would come out all guns blazing during the second period.

However, this onslaught from Bacup never materialised and it was the Rams who dealt the killer blow in the opening minutes of the second half when Edgington cut infield from a poorly cleared corner and fired a dangerous cross into the six yard box that Ian Hughes unfortunately sliced into the back of his own net.

This compounded the misery for Bacup as the defensive mix-up clearly indicated their lack of communication.

Peters decided to make drastic changes by bringing on his son Martin for the ineffective Thornley and Damian Moran for Emmett.

The question being asked was whether these changes were tactical to avoid a drubbing or would they alter the pattern of a one-sided encounter.

The former appeared to be the correct answer although it quickly became clear that the Rams were content to move the ball about without pushing forward in search of more goals.

Lee Buggie, on his return to the Riverside in a Bacup shirt, had the best opportunity but his tame shot was comfortably dealt with by Mark Andrews who was largely untroubled for the majority of the game.

Egan was able to make changes during the second half with Purcell, Adam Kozlowski and Cook being given well earned rests after impressive displays in recent weeks.

Leading scorer Michael Saunders was introduced along with Chris Mackay and Alex Frost and Saunders must now be thinking how on earth he will find a way back into the starting line-up after the team's performance in the previous two matches.

Another emphatic result for the Rams ensured the gap was closed between themselves and the top three.

RAMSBOTTOM: Andrews, Raywood, Brooks, Kozlowski, Robertson, Blackley, Edgington, Walsh, Purcell, Morley, Cook. Subs: Saunders (for Purcell), Mackay (for Cook), Frost (for Kozlowski)

Chris Boothman