BLACKROD Town recovered from a heavy derby defeat the previous weekend to inflict one of their own, putting five goals past Horwich St Mary’s Victoria in the Lancashire Amateur League Premier Division.

The team led by joint managers Iain Froggatt and Andy Morris hit three goals in the first half and another couple after the break, with the only blot on their copybook a late own goal by Jimmy Winteringham that prevented a clean sheet and made the final score 5-1.

Not that Froggatt was too downhearted about that late slip, as his side were in control virtually from the first whistle to the last.

Matty Davies had got Blackrod’s goal rush under way and with Mike McGinlay – the son of Wanderers legend John – and Luke Skelly each scoring twice, Skelly netting a fine chip, Town came away from Scholes Bank happy.

Victory also meant they bounced back in style from a 6-2 Lancashire FA Cup defeat at the hands of Premier Division leaders – and cup holders – Old Boltonians.

“It wasn’t a close game, if I’m honest,” said Froggatt.

“We bossed it from the start and everyone played their part, I was over the moon with the win.

“We were 3-0 up at half time and I had to make it clear to the players that the next goal was crucial.

“If we got it, it would finish the game, if they had got it it would have opened the game up and been very difficult for us.

“Fortunately Luke came up with a brilliant chip for our fourth goal 10 minutes into the second half and we were on the way then.

“It would have been nice to keep a clean sheet but it wasn’t to be, we took our foot off the gas when we were five up.

“There was a long break in play, after Michael McGinlay collided with their stand-in goalkeeper, who was playing because their regular keeper was suspended, and we never got going again after that.

“Horwich kept going and got a reward, though we scored it for them.”

The result means Blackrod sit third in the table, a point behind Roach Dynamos, who have played a game more.

And although he admits they will not be looking too far beyond this weekend’s home game against mid-table Mostonians, Froggatt says the return fixture against Old Bolts, who have also beaten Blackrod in an earlier league meeting, is one he will relish.

“Old Bolts are the team to beat in this league, definitely,” he added. “It’s a game we’ll look forward to and go into looking to avenge those defeats.

“But Mostonians come first, we’ve played them many times and they are always a decent, hard-working team.

“We’ll go into the game with confidence, I’m happy with the squad we’ve got as it stands so I’m hoping we can kick-start our season.

“We had a run of 10 games unbeaten last season so that’s something for us to aim for.”

Meanwhile, it gets no easier for Horwich, who occupy 10th place, as they travel to Old Bolts this Saturday.

The day’s big winners in the LAL were Matt Barnes’ Little Lever, who sent strugglers Howe Bridge Mills away empty-handed after a 7-0 win to move to fifth in the Premier Division.

Jack Coop scored five times for the hosts, with Ozzy Almond’s strike adding to an own goal for Lever.

In the Manchester League

Premier Division Bolton County suffered a 3-1 defeat at title challengers Wythenshawe Amateurs, with Liam Stewart scoring their only goal.