LEAGUE champions Trinity showed they are in no mood to reliquish their title after a five star show against early pace-setters Stacksteads.

Bacup side Stacksteads have roared to the top of the Premier League thanks to a four game unbeaten start to the season.

However, their title credentials were on the line against a Trinity side who gave them a lesson in finishing.

Big hit man Lee Wren and speedy strike partner Damien Bruce did the damage while young Paul Rodgers followed up his hat-trick against Weir with another goal.

Bruce proved to be a menace from the start and his runs from deep made him hard to pick up.

In contrast, Wren was your typical target man whose battering ram technique and neat touch made a handful.

However, it was Stacksteads who had the first real threat on goal when Sam Warwick's good deep cross was headed just wide by Darren Green.

But it was not long before Trinity made their possession count and after slick passing between Paul Fletcher and Darren Sumter, Bruce cut in from the left and fired a shot across Lee Woodrup in the Stacksteads goal.

Bruce then grabbed a second soon after when he latched on to a Wren through ball and his pace took him clear of the Stacksteads defence before rounding Woodrup and stroking the ball home.

Stacksteads showed just why they went to the top of the table in their best spell of the game just after the restart.

The impressive Michael Halstead let himself down when he fired over from eight yards before Daniel Coleman 20 yard blaster just missed the target.

The tigerish Andrew Warwick was get more involved in the midfield scrap and all of a sudden Trinity were in a game.

Stacksteads had a let off when A Rodgers shot shaved the post before another Coleman drive was narrowly off target.

The champions needed another goal and it soon arrived when Woodrup missed Sumter's cross and Wren rolled the ball home. Rodgers, after missing a string of chances, finally added number four before a deflected Wren effort wrapped up victory.

There is still a long way to go but Trinity showed one of their rivals just what they have to do to prise the silverware away.

RESULT: Trinity BL 5 Stacksteads 0

TEAMS:

Trinity BL Clifford Smith (keeper) Apart from one second half save very little to do...6

Mark Sutcliffe (right back) Rarely troubled and linked up well with Paul Rodgers...6

Steve Duthiot (left back) Always looking to play the ball out of defence...6

Mark Gaughan (centre back) Stroll in the back for the skipper. Kept his concentration well...6

Daniel Howard (centre back) Another who had plenty of time on the ball to pass the ball out of defence...6

Paul Fletcher (right midfield) Saw plenty of the ball and linked up well with Sumter and Bruce for first goal...7

Paul Rodgers (left midfield) Came inside in the second half and after missing a string of chances finally scored...7

Mark Butterworth (centre midfield) Showed some good touches in the first half before going off injured...7

Darren Sumter (centre midfield) Great vision and great passing range. Played well...8

HDamien Bruce (striker) Blistering pace caused Stacksteads all sorts of trouble. Scored two good goals...8

Lee Wren (striker) Big target man put himself about and also scored two goals...7

Subs

Paul Sumter (midfield) Veteran showed their was plenty left in the tank and gave a solid second half display...6

Keith Harvey (defence) Late run out but looked comfortable on the ball...6 Stacksteads Lee Woodrup (keeper) Exposed and a bit suspect in the nets but still made some brave saves...5

Andrew Lord (sweeper) No nonsense defender who did his best to keep Trinity at bay...6

Sam Warwick (right back) Given a bit of a runaround by Bruce but stuck to his task...6

Michael Farragher (left back) Did a good containing job on Rodgers in first half...6

Carl Wilson (centre back) Kept Wren relatively quite in first half but was overpowered after the break...6

Darren Green (right midfield) Worked hard without really threatening the Trinity defence...6

Daniel Coleman (left midfield) Had some decent early runs but faded late on...6

Andrew Warwick (centre midfield) Full blooded display in middle of the park and kept going until the end...7

H Michael Halstead (centre midfield) Talented youngster showed some good touches and never gave up the fight...7

Liam Mulderick (striker) Created a fair few chances but should have made one of them count...7

Wayne Ralphs (striker) Looked useful in the early stages but did not seem much of the ball after that...6

Subs TRINITY (4-4-2) Manager: Steve Bird

Scorers: D Bruce (26, 35) L Wren (70, 80) P Rodgers (75)

Booked: --

Subs: P Sumter for M Butterworth (47), K Harvey for M Fletcher (82) STACKSTEADS (1-4-3-2) Manager: Anthony Nuttall

Scorers: --

Booked: --

Subs: P Leyland for W Ralphs (80), J Lord for D Green (85) REFEREE: ERIC WOOLER Trinity triumph