STOCKSBRIDGE Park Steels recorded their first home UniBond first division victory of the season as they easily brushed aside a woeful Rossendale United.

It was Rossendale's worst performance of the season by far, and it was hard to believe the same side outplayed Premier Division Droylsden just four days earlier.

Dale started the better side, and had two good chances to open the scoring, but both Brooks and Sargeson found the side netting with their efforts.

Stocksbridge employed a long ball approach which the Dale defence never got to grips with, and with their first real attempt on goal they opened the scoring through Matt Bullock's glancing header on 28 minutes.

Two minutes later the Sheffield side doubled their lead as Paul Jackson unselfishly squared the ball for James Tevendale who had the simple task of finding the empty net.

The third arrived through Jeremy Illingworth whose 25 yard drive was unstoppable as it flew into the top corner.

Ged Smith gave the visiting supporters some hope five minutes before the interval, Jamie Holmshaw allowing Smith's free kick to slip through his hands, but any thoughts of a comeback were squashed just three minutes after the interval.

Having already scored one from distance, Illingworth repeated the trick with another thunderbolt which gave Mark Andrews no chance.

Dale had keeper Andrews to thank for keeping the score down as he denied Tevendale and Jones, and Bullock thumped a post with another effort before the misery was completed with 10 minutes remaining.

It was Bullock again who fired in another cross from the right wing and Adam Burley was left with an easy tap-in at the back post.

STOCKSBRIDGE ...5

ROSSENDALE UTD...1