THIS was a long anticipated clash of the Titans, Bispham top of the league and Kirkham a close second.

Both teams started cautiously, like two dogs circling each other before deciding whether to scrap or walk away. Once this period ended both teams put on a great show.

Kirkham went closest to scoring when they put an effort just over the bar. BJFF then had two good chances which the solid Kirkham keeper saved impressively.

Bispham took the lead on 25 minutes when Chris Openshaw pulled back a peach of a pass from the dead ball line, after good interplay with Rob Carney-Smith , and John White placed a flick into the back of the net.

Two minutes later Ryan Holmes towered over the Blues defence to nod in an Olly Kelly free-kick. Kirkham then attacked furiously but this left gaps at the back which the now buzzing Whites ruthlessly exploited. Gareth Moore bagged the third when he tapped in a Terracruz shot that had rebounded off the upright.

Terracruz put Bispham four goals to the good when he headed in a Lee Barton-Rossall corner just as the clock struck half-time.

As the teams lined up for the second-half , BJFF had a mean hungry look about them and it wasn't long before they went nap. Terracruz was hauled to the ground as he burst into the Kirkham box and Openshaw converted the resulting penalty. Ian Bond then scored a brilliant individual effort and topped that with a 25 yard stormer that was still rising as it hit the net. BJFF wrapped the game up when Antony Harper scored from just outside the box after a nice slice of football from debutant Kurt Rimmington. Kirkham played well but they found Matty Wood and Sam Gardiner in meticulous form when they attacked.