ROB the Plumber is a Con man!

No, not another story about a Cowboy handyman but of the Londoner who has bizarrely found his way in to the Blackburn Combination's handbook as Whitehall Top Con's secretary.

The Watford water worker is now a long distance fan of the Darwen club -- and he would have been proud of his boys!

For Top Con, last season's Division Two league and cup winners, sent Premier League leaders Old Toll Bar tumbling out of the Birtwistle Cup.

And all that after being reduced to 10 men and coming from a goal down. The evergreen Dennis Tate gave Toll Bar a deserved lead with a thumping header after Scott Tierney and Steve Dunn had tormented the Top Con defence in a sustained period of attacks.

It was a goal that was coming for the high fliers as Jimmy Riley and Tierney both went close.

But thanks largely to some fine keeping from Livid Bellusci, Top Con managed to survive the onslaught without conceding another goal.

And it got even better when Paul Jackson turned home a loose ball just before the break after Angus Fielding saved Conrad Turner's low strike.

Clearly lifted by their timely equaliser, Top Con took the lead two minutes after the re-start when the exceptional Matt Turner beat Fielding with a crisp drive from outside the area.

Turner was now pulling the strings in midfield while Paul Kennedy and Glen Ainsworth were seeing plenty of ball down the flanks.

From one mazy run, Kennedy fired in a cross that Jackson some how failed to connect with from a few yards out.

Kennedy then showed a great piece of skill to skip around Gary Smith and race clear only for Fielding to smother his shot.

But Toll Bar were soon on level terms when Tierney's goalbound shot was handled on the line by Martin Longworth who was dismissed and Tate scored from the spot.

That should have been the cue for Toll Bar to take charge but 10-men Top Con had other ideas and Kennedy grabbed a deserved goal when he beat Fielding at his near post.

Top Con then made sure of victory when Ainsworth produced a wonderful piece of skill to beat Fielding from 40 yards out after skipping around Eric Croft.

Rob the Plumber will be a happy man. OLD TOLL BAR (4-4-2) Manager: Mick Baron

Scorers: D Tate (33, 65)

Booked: --

Subs: M Baron for M Thomas (55), A Ford for M Boyle (55) WHITEHALL TOP CON (4-4-2) Manager: Ade Turner

Scorers: C Jackson (41), M Turner (47), P Kennedy (78), G Ainsworth (80)

Sent off: M Longworth (65)

Subs: L Banks for M Robinson (33), J Grubb for C Turner (58) M Ellison for C Jackson (78) BLACKBURN COMBINATION: BIRTWISTLE CUP SECOND ROUND Whitehall Top Con 4 Old Toll Bar 2 Ratings Old Toll Bar Angus Fielding (keeper) Some good stops but at fault for third goal...6

Eric Croft (right back) Distribution a bit suspect but worked hard...6

Alan Taylor (left back) Tough in the tackle and got forward well...6

Gary Smith (centre back) Did not do that much wrong. Decent performance...7

Jimmy Riley (centre back) Solid defending and dangerous at set pieces. Went forward late on...7

Mark Thomas (right midfield) Worked his socks off down the flanks but tired late on...6

Scott Tierney (left midfield) Busy body wide on the left and went close with clever free kick...8

HDennis Tate (centre midfield) Scored twice and had a real purple patch midway through the second half when he control the game. Good passing display...8

Dave Ainsworth (centre midfield) Got stuck in and never gave up. Played well...7

Mark Boyle (striker) Held the ball up well and made some good passes but no real chances...6

Steve Dunn (striker) Performance warranted a goal. A real threat throughout the game...7

Subs

Alan Ford (midfield) Nearly made a name for himself with a stinging shot...7

Mick Baron (midfield) Made some decent crosses from the right but failed to get with the pace of the game...6 Whitehall

Top Con Livid Bellusci (keeper) Made a string of vital saves throughout the match and played his part in victory...7

Martin Longworth (right back) Caught ball watching a few times then ball handling and was sent off...6

Mark Robinson (left back) Went off early with hamstring injury...6

Lewis Bentley (centre back) Looked comfortable on the ball and had good tussle with Mark Boyle...7

Graham Ashworth (centre back) Solid display at heart of defence...7

Conrad Turner (right midfield) Great first half and linked up well with attackers and brother Matt...7

Glen Ainsworth (left midfield) Wonderful left foot and was a menace in first half. Faded after the break but popped up to score goal of the game...8

HMatthew Turner (centre midfield) Great all-round display. Aggressive in the tackle, good passing range and took his goal well...8

Tony Walsh (centre midfield) Tidied up in midfield and played the holding role well...7

Chris Jackson (striker) Opened the scoring and put himself about. Missed sitter after the break...6

Paul Kennedy (striker) Pace was a real threat and probably has a claim for the third goal...8

Subs

Lee Banks (defender) Came on early and did a decent job...6

Morgan Ellison (striker) Didn't get many chances but did well...6

James Grubb (midfield) Youngster showed he liked to run at defenders but had to sit back when down to 10 men...6

REFEREE: MICK HOOLE