Stand Athletic 8 Willows 0

STAND'S growing army of spectators were served up another goal feast at Ewood Bridge last Saturday as they blasted eight past a bewildered Willows side.

But despite this excellent performance, the match will be remembered for a broken leg, sustained by the club's top scorer, Mark Wilson, as he slid in to knock in the side's third goal on the stroke of half-time.

If Wilson's premature exit was the down-side, then the debut of new boy Chris Denham was surely a highlight.

His pace and skill was a constant thorn in Eccles' side, darting down the right side to jink past his markers before squaring the ball to his brother Mark, coming in from the left to steer the ball home after ten minutes.

Five minutes later he helped himself to a goal, scoring from close range.

The Willows team now employed a more physical approach to their afternoon's work, which had nothing to do with Wilson's injury, as the third goal rolled into the net. Praise must be given to Paul Booth's refereeing that this game was kept in check.

With Mickey Bartholomew, relegated to the bench to allow Denham his chance, replacing the unfortunate Wilson, he helped himself to what can only be called tap-ins not once but twice in the opening ten minutes of the second half.

Bartholomew always has the knack of being in the right place at the right time, and is experienced enough to acknowledge that Denham's second and his side sixth, was nothing more than his young protege deserved.

Bartholomew also upped his own goal tally by claiming a hat-trick minutes later.

Willows, now reduced to ten men following a sending off, got little change from a well-drilled Stand defence of Davis, Channon and Gallagher and they were punished again when Stuart Telfer performed one of his late solo goals.

The crowd still wanted more, but fortunately for Willows the 90 minutes were up!

STAND ATHLETIC: Rooney, Channon, Davis, Gallagher, Telfer, Stott, Leonard, C. Denham, (Kavangher), Dawes, M. Denham, (Westhead), Wilson (Bartholomew).

Stand have no fixture tomorrow (Saturday March 10).