FOR the first 43 minutes of this top versus bottom match the 34-point difference between Bamber Bridge and Hyde United seemed an illusion.

In an evenly balanced, if uninspired contest, Brig matched promotion favourites Hyde blow for blow - and it was possible to imagine the home team securing enough point to climb out of the relegation zone.

But in two astonishing minutes just before half-time the heart was ripped out of Bamber Bridge's game.

On 44 minutes a hopeful punt upfield found Hyde's Tony Carroll.

Chesting the ball down, he turned sharply before hitting a screaming volley past Stuart Barton.

Brig pressed for an immediate reply but a Hyde counter-attack put Ged Kimmins through and the England amateur international bundled the ball home.

Within seconds Kimmins had made it 3-0, catching the visibly reeling Bamber Bridge defence at a standstill to score from the angle.

Whether Brig felt they could save the game, or whether they realised they had nothing to lose, the second-half saw them eager to attack.

And with Hyde able to strike on the break play swung from end to end.

But as Brig tired, Hyde took control. On the hour Kimmins shimmied through Bamber Bridge's back-four to score his hat-trick and with better finishing Hyde would have got more.

But the fifth goal went to Brig - Dave Lancaster picking-up a lofted injury-time clearance and squeezing his shot between the post and the keeper.

Final score Bamber Bridge 1 Hyde United 4

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