LEAGUE Leaders Hurst Green were brushed aside with a swagger and a touch of class in this top of the table clash that suggests that the title race is far from over, as Worsthorne continued with the sort of championship form that has seen them win their last eight matches.

Hurst Green, sitting proudly in top spot, were made to look second rate by a well balanced and highly organised Worsthorne side that played some delightful football and only the undoubted skill of goalkeeper Steven Young prevented the scoreline reflecting the true drubbing Hurst Green suffered.

Hurst Green were on the back foot right from the start and within the first few minutes Worsthorne created two good chances resulting in Darren Forrest volleying over the bar and then the same player forcing Steve Young to turn a stringing shot round the post for a corner.

With Damian Ingham and Chris Ridge causing havoc down the left flank, Worsthorne carved out chance after chance as the home side reeled under the pressure. Ridge picked out Craig Wilkinson with a peach of a ball that Wilkinson hit first time, then stood open mouthed, as Young produced a great save to deny the visitors the lead.

On the break David Cook fed a good through ball to Mark Plant who fired in a good shot just wide. But it proved only a momentary pause for Young and within minutes Ingham freed Mick Tregay and he hit a great cross shot that flew inches wide of the keeper's far post. Chris Ridge then threaded a lovely weighted ball into the six yard box for Craig Wilkinson, but Young was down at his feet in a flash, smothered the danger and the ball ran to safety.

In fact it took the visitors until the 45th minute to open their account courtesy of Hurst Green defender Mick Cross. Cross, who went into Mr Otley's notebook in the 44th minute, hadn't quite returned to reality when he hacked down Tregay inside the six yard box and from the resulting penalty, Ramsbottom gave Young no chance with a well placed drive, low into the corner. Despite there being only one goal and one league position separating the two sides at the half time break, only one team looked like real title contenders and no one was putting their money on Hurst Green.

In the second half, Worsthorne went two up in the 52nd minute with the best goal of the game. The impressive Tregay got the goal he deserved when he swaggered past two defenders on the edge of the box and crashed home a blistering shot from 15 yards.

Within minutes Hurst Green thought they'd pulled one back. Sayle's pinpoint cross found the head of Warren Baker and his downward header was cleared off the line amidst desperate claims for a goal from the home side.

In the 58th minute Worsthorne went further ahead when Darren Forrest demonstrated real class with a dazzling run which took him deep into the Hurst Green goal area only to see his vicious shot parried by Steven Young. But Young could do nothing, as he lay stranded on the deck, to prevent Wilkinson latching onto the loose ball and lashing in a shot from five yards.

As Worsthorne took their foot of the gas, Dave Whalley typified Hurst Green's lack of conviction, when from point blank range he skied Alan Sayle's cross over the bar and moments later failed to capitalise on a mistake by Ridge, shooting hopelessly wide from three yards.

At the other end Vinny Wilkinson spared the home side further embarrassment when Ingham rounded Steven Young on the edge of the penalty area and crossed to Tregay who faced an open goal. But before Tregay could force the ball home, Wilkinson whipped the ball off his toes and cleared the danger.

This victory and the way it was achieved demonstrated clearly that Worsthorne are the true rivals to title favourites Crosshills FC's Championship aspirations, and when the two sides meet to do battle this weekend, it promises to be a cracker.

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