Just one point separated struggling Winsford United and Bacup & Rossendale Borough going into the game so both sides were desperate for a win to try and propel themselves up the league table.

And it was Bacup who came away with a huge three points after two well taken first half goals and tremendous battling in the second.

Bacup had a early let off when Winsford missed a penalty in the fifth minute.

But they responded superbly, the lively Matty Bryan, who was captain for the day, went close with one effort before Bacup took the lead in the 14th minute.

Some great hold up play initially by Simon Thompson led to him powering down the by-line and firing in a great cross which Gino Mancini met and finished superbly.

In what was Bacup’s best spell of the game they started to turn the screw as they were close to doubling their lead when Mancini and debutant Paul Hooper combined only for Nic Clemons to drag his shot just wide.

But a second goal arrived on the half hour mark when Clemons played a glorious through ball to Thompson who got inside a defender before unleashing a volley that cannoned in off both posts.

Sam Marshall pulled one back for Winsford in the 56th minute but Bacup hung on to win thanks to some outstanding defending.