BACUP bounced back from the worst possible start to cruise to a comfortable victory in the NWCL First Division.

On loan veteran goalkeeper David Felgate must have thought he was going to have a busy afternoon when visitors Newcastle took the lead on 10 minutes.

Bacup boss Brent Peters instantly substituted Gareth Thomas and brought on Karl Stanley and, on 17 minutes, Bacup equalised when Rhodri Giggs was fouled, winning Bacup a free-kick.

Darren Emmett played a quality ball into Lee Wilkinson, who was brought down in the area. A penalty was awarded and Steve Stott levelled from the spot.

Bacup got their noses in front five minutes later. Following some slick football, the ball was delivered from the right to find Wilkinson, who placed the ball past the keeper.

On 43 minutes Sean Cryer freed Stanley on the flank, he outpaced his marker before delivering a quality ball into the area, where Darren Emmett was waiting to head Borough into a 3-1 half-time lead.

Bacup failed to add further goals and, 20 minutes from time, their lead was cut when Newcastle were awarded a penalty and they scored from the spot.

Borough had to produce some stout defending and on two occasions Felgate was called into the action to produce fine saves.

But it was all over on 88 minutes when the ball found Emmett. The keeper failed to hold on to his drive and Stuart Telfer was on hand to ram home the rebound.

BACUP BOROUGH ...4

NEWCASTLE TOWN ...2

THIS football match had everything, controvresial refereeing decisions, manager Brent Peters' verbal outburst at the official, quality football from both sides, in a game that was payed with the passion one would expect from two teams with the ambition of playing Unibond League football next season.

Newcastle had a couple of early chances to have taken the lead and loan signing veteran goalkeeper David Felgate must have thought he was going to have a busy afternoon especially when they took the lead on 10 minutes when Gareth Thomas was cuaght wrong side of his man.

On 15 minutes no-nonsense manager Brent Peters substituted Thomas and brought on Karl Stanley and on 17 minutes Bacup had equalised when Giggs was fouled winning Bacup a free kick. Darren Emmett played a quality ball into Lee Wilkinson who was brought down in the area, a penalty was awarded and Steve Stott levelled from the spot.

On 20 minutes a defence-splitting pass was played, Darren Emmett raced through, he lifted the ball over the keeper, just as he was going to place the ball into the empty net the keeper brought Emmett down much to the amazement of everyone on the ground, none more than manager Brent Peters. No penalty was awarded, heated exchanges followed between the referee and Brent Peters after which manager Brent Peters stood behind the barrier off his own accord despite the fact some spectators were under the impression he had been snt off.

On 22 minutes Bacup got thei reward following some slick football, the ball was delivered from the right which found Wilkinson who placed the ball past their keeper.

Bacup were now playing full of confidence, keeper Felgate made a long throw to Giggs who took a good first touch before finding Wilkinson whose shot was going narrowly wide but Giggs got there to shoot goalbound but a Newcastle defender got enough on the blal to send it over the bar.

On 43 minutes Cryer put Karl Stanley in down the flank who outpaced their defender before delivering a quality ball into the area, it was defended but only as far as Lee Anderson who played the ball back into the area for Emmett to head Borough into a 3-1 lead.

Former Welsh International keeper David Felgate made a good save on the stroke of half time.

Bacup started well in the second half, the lively Giggs was fouled, Emmett's free kick found Wilkinson's head whose header came back off the post but no one was following in.

Then Stanley swung the ball in which beat the keeper, but went just wide off the post.

On 70 minutes the official did give Newcastle a penalty when he judgedCryer of on infringement and they scored from the spot.

This promptly gave the visitors hope of at least salvaging a point, pushing more men forward. Bacup had to produce some stout defending and on two occasions Felgate was brought into the action producing two fine saves.

On 88 minutes it was over when the ball found Emmett whose drive the keeper failed to hold and there was Telfer to hit home the rebound