Ramsbottom United...5

Great Harwood Town...0

RAMSBOTTOM picked up three valuable points and got a much-needed confidence boost as they hammered their local rivals.

Substitute Paul Cameron joined the action as early as the second minute when Mike Langhorn limped off with a knee injury.

Ramsbottom reshuffled their defence, then applied some early pressure that led to them taking the lead in the eighth minute.

Jamie Taylor capitalised on a hesitant Great Harwood defence to score his first goal for the club with a neat finish from six yards.

Immediately afterwards poor marking by the Rams almost gifted Town an equaliser, but Andrew Proctor skied the ball over the top following a corner kick on the left.

Ramsbottom doubled their lead on 26 minutes. Russell Brierley looped a header into the net from Phil Porter's cross.

A fine, four-man move almost brought a third, but keeper Darryl Sloane turned away Danny Goodall's fierce drive.

The visitors, with Graham Lightbowne prominent were far from out of it and Kris Trippier headed over from Lightbowne's pin-point cross.

As the first half ended, Porter got forward and tested Sloane with a 20-yard shot that Sloane took at the second attempt.

At the break Ramsbottom were good value for their two-goal lead. During the interval torrential rain started to fall and continued into the second half as Ramsbottom opened strongly, forcing three successive corner kicks.

Ramsbottom attacked down both flanks, with Steve Brennan looking a real threat and the Town defence were kept under pressure.

On 49 minutes, Brierley headed on for Taylor to score with a delightfully floated shot that gave Sloane no chance whatsoever.

The Rams really had the bit between their teeth and it was no surprise when they added a fourth goal on 56 minutes.

Sloane blocked Stephen Sheil's shot, then did well to keep out Brad Franks' second attempt, but could do nothing as Brierley was left with a tap-in.

Although four behind, Great Harwood refused to lie down and Rams' debutant keeper, Alan Fairbrother, was in action with a couple of good saves from Trippier and Lightbowne.

On 70 minutes Brierley completed his hat-trick via the penalty spot after the tricky Taylor had been brought down in the box.

The final 20 minutes failed to produce any further goals, although substitute Steve Orrell was desperately unlucky to see his perfectoly struck, right-foot drive from 20 yards ricochet off the underside of the crossbar.

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Fairbrother 6, Porter 7, Langhorn 6, Wallace 7, Sheil 7, Brennan 8, Franks 7, Roach 8, Goodall 8, Brierley 9, Taylor 9. Substitutes: Cameron (for Langhorn, 2 mins) 7, Lomas (for Franks, 63 mins) 6, Orrell (for Roach, 70 mins) 7.

Worthington League Challenge Cup second round action tomorrow at Prescot Cables and on Tuesday night Newcastle Town visit the Riverside (kick-off 7.45pm).