Leek CSOB...2

Ramsbottom Utd...5

RAMSBOTTOM United produced a fitting tribute as they got back into action following the recent death of manager Ken Bridge.

Mr Bridge's funeral had been held just over 24 hours earlier and the Rams no doubt had Ken in mind when they went nap in Staffordshire.

Ramsbottom made a strong start and Steve Orrell was inches away from getting a final touch to Russell Brierley's deep cross from the right.

Darren Bowman then brought a fine save from Bob Hackney in the Leek goal.

In this opening period the home side hardly got a look-in and it was no surprise when the Rams took the lead on 15 minutes, Chris Willcock heading home Orrell's left wing cross.

Ramsbottom continued to dominate and got their second goal on 25 minutes, Brierley capitalising on a defensive error to score with a simple tap-in.

The home defence came under serious pressure as Ramsbottom went for a third and Hackney produced yet another excellent stop, turning Andy Grimshaw's stinging drive behind for a corner kick. A couple of minutes before the break Brierley made it 3-0 when he got the final touch as Willcock drove the ball into a crowded goalmouth.

Five minutes into the second half Leek surprisingly pulled a goal back when Neil Robinson's shot crept inside Keith Nield's far post.

Within a minute United had restored their three-goal advantage when Brierley completed his hat-trick with a shot that left Hackney helpless.

The Rams leading scorer then left the action, being replaced by Mark Heyes, who quickly got in on the act by adding a fifth with a vicious shot into the roof of the Leek net.

With 15 minutes still to play, Ramsbottom looked likely to run riot against the league's bottom side, but they took their foot off the pedal and allowed Leek in for a second goal.

A flick-on from a long throw-in came off central defender Mark Thomas's head for an own goal.

In the end it was a comfortable victory for the Rams with Neil Wallace putting in a fine display and five goals away from home showed the sort of firepower this side is capable of.

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Nield 6, Porter 7, Smith 7, Thomas 7, Morris 7, Wallace 8, Bowman 7, Grimshaw 7, Orrell 7, Brierley 8, Willcock 7. Substitutes: Heyes (for Brierley, 52 mins) 6, Briddon (for Morris, 60) 6, Whiute (for Bowman, 75).

Ramsbottom entertain Glossop North End in a North West Counties Division One game at the Riverside tonight (TUESDAY MARCH 6 kick-off 7.45pm).