A SECOND-HALF of quite stunning quality from Peter Cooper 's Old Boltonians left Southport Amateurs shaken and stirred in a 6-0 scoreline.

"The first half was very tight," explained the Tower Street team boss. "We scored with virtually the last kick before the break but in the second half we bombarded them and played some great stuff."

Jules Ellis got that last-gasp first half stalemate breaker and was on the mark again in the second period blitz. Further goals came from Dave Haslam, substitute Simon Shields, man of the match Paul Rouke (his first of the season) and Ged McGreavey.

Visitors Rochdale St Clements were far from happy with Bury GSOB 's equaliser in a 1-1 Premier Division draw.

Having taken the lead in the first half the visitors looked safe as Bury had the upper hand but lacked the cutting edge. On 75 minutes Paul Wilde attempted an overhead kick which was far from perfectly executed. The ball looped in the air and the Rochdale keeper backpedalled to gather. In doing so a flag was raised in judgement that he had crossed the goalline holding the ball. Despite protestations the goal was allowed to stand. Left back Dave Bracegirdle was Bury 's man of the match.

The top game in Division One saw Bolton County clock up an eighth consecutive victory with a 3-1 win at big rivals Radcliffe Amateurs. John Conroy's side's 100 per cent record now sees them one point adrift with three games in hand on the Ammies who still lead the table.

Radcliffe took the lead in the very first minute but from there on in County took control. On seven minutes Rob Howarth powered in a header for 1-1 and early in the second half his brother Trevor glanced home to make it 2-1. With the ten minutes left man of the match Rob made it 3-1.

Radcliffe's Pete Daws admitted: "They outplayed us in every department bar one - but for our goalkeeper Chris Robertson it could have been seven or eight." Conroy in the County camp agreed: "Their keeper was just fantastic. He pulled off three fabulous saves in the first half and four in the second."

Horwich RMI had as many problems with a gluepot of a pitch as they did with visitors Heywood St James in a scrappy 3-1 victory. Scott Henderson fired home from the penalty spot in the first half but Rochdale battled back to make it 1-1 early in the second period. A double substitution from Railwaymen team boss John Sumner changed the game with man of the match Dave Walker getting the second and Craig Morris killing the game off with a delightful chip over the keeper for the third.

The RMI Reserves registered their biggest win since joining the LAL with a 12-1 victory at Heywood.

Goals from Tommy Ruddock and Pete Holden saw Bury Amateurs 2nds to a 2-1 home win over Mostonians.

An inspired second half substitution from Ambassadors Julian Wolstencroft played an influential part in his team 's 3-1 away victory at Division Two title hopefuls Old Mancunians.

Veteran defender Simon Murphy was handed the goalkeeper 's jersey after the team regular was taken ill shortly before the game. He was beaten on 28 minutes against the run of play. On 48 minutes the Bolton side levelled when John Boggs fed Nick Smith to unleash an unstoppable drive from 25 yards. On 57 minutes Wolstencroft pitched Darren Durham into the fray for the injured Andi Morley and his pace proved too much for the home defence to cope with.

The supersub got Ambassadors ' second on 77 minutes and Jon Jenkinson added a third five minutes from the end. A SECOND-HALF of quite stunning quality from Peter Cooper 's Old Boltonians left Southport Amateurs shaken and stirred in a 6-0 scoreline.

"The first half was very tight," explained the Tower Street team boss. "We scored with virtually the last kick before the break but in the second half we bombarded them and played some great stuff."

Jules Ellis got that last-gasp first half stalemate breaker and was on the mark again in the second period blitz. Further goals came from Dave Haslam, substitute Simon Shields, man of the match Paul Rouke (his first of the season) and Ged McGreavey.

Rivington moved into fourth position after their 2-1 win over Gregorians.

Keeper Stuart Malee kept them in touch with good saves early in the first half before Shaun Lilley hit a post with a spectacular overhead kick.

Lilley put Rivs ahead on 50 minutes when he volleyed home Craig Walkden's cross and although Gregorians looked to have grabbed a share of the points with a 75th minute equaliser, Rivs hit the winner three muintes from time when Chris Saunders headed in John Coyne's corner.

Cutting edge

Visitors Rochdale St Clements were far from happy with Bury GSOB 's equaliser in a 1-1 Premier Division draw.

Having taken the lead in the first half the visitors looked safe as Bury had the upper hand but lacked the cutting edge. On 75 minutes Paul Wilde attempted an overhead kick which was far from perfectly executed. The ball looped in the air and the Rochdale keeper backpedalled to gather. In doing so a flag was raised in judgement that he had crossed the goalline holding the ball. Despite protestations the goal was allowed to stand. Left back Dave Bracegirdle was Bury 's man of the match.

The top game in Division One saw Bolton County clock up an eighth consecutive victory with a 3-1 win at big rivals Radcliffe Amateurs. John Conroy's side's 100 per cent record now sees them one point adrift with three games in hand on the Ammies who still lead the table.

Radcliffe took the lead in the very first minute but from there on in County took control. On seven minutes Rob Howarth powered in a header for 1-1 and early in the second half his brother Trevor glanced home to make it 2-1. With the ten minutes left man of the match Rob made it 3-1.

Radcliffe's Pete Daws admitted: "They outplayed us in every department bar one - but for our goalkeeper Chris Robertson it could have been seven or eight." Conroy in the County camp agreed: "Their keeper was just fantastic. He pulled off three fabulous saves in the first half and four in the second."

Horwich RMI had as many problems with a gluepot of a pitch as they did with visitors Heywood St James in a scrappy 3-1 victory.

Battled back

Scott Henderson fired home a first half penalty but Rochdale battled back to make it 1-1 early in the second period. A double substitution from Railwaymen team boss John Sumner changed the game with man of the match Dave Walker getting the second and Craig Morris killing the game off with a delightful chip over the keeper for the third. RMI Reserves registered their biggest win since joining the LAL with a 12-1 win at Heywood.

Goals from Tommy Ruddock and Pete Holden saw Bury Amateurs 2nds to a 2-1 home win over Mostonians.

An inspired second half substitution from Ambassadors Julian Wolstencroft played an influential part in his team's 3-1 away victory at Division Two title hopefuls Old Mancunians.

Veteran defender Simon Murphy was handed the goalkeeper's jersey after the team regular was taken ill shortly before the game. He was beaten on 28 minutes against the run of play. On 48 minutes the Bolton side levelled when Nick Smith unleashed an unstoppable drive from 25 yards. On 57 minutes Wolstencroft pitched Darren Durham into the fray for the injured Andi Morley and his pace proved too much for the home defence to cope with.

The supersub got Ambassadors ' second on 77 minutes and Jon Jenkinson added a third five minutes from the end. WEST Lancs League And no joy for West Lancs NOT one of our local West Lancs League sides was in action at the weekend with Tempest United chairman Alan Westhead summing up the frustration.

"At quarter to twelve both our 1st team and reserves games were on, then the rain came down. By half past twelve there was no chance of either team playing."