Bacup Borough 3 Atherton LR 0: THREE second-half goals took Bacup Borough to the top of the North West Counties League as Atherton LR slipped to their first defeat of the season.

LR competed well in the first half, but rarely troubled the home keeper, and Bacup stepped up the pressure after the interval.

The home side took the lead when Karl Stanley's cross was deflected in off a defender six minutes into the second half. Steve Stott made it two three minutes later with a thunderous shot from 30 yards.

And Bacup rounded off a comprehensive victory when Dean Emmett scored the third.