Bolton 5 Timperley 1: NEAR top against near bottom, which results in a 5-1 win, suggests an easy day for Bolton, but they made hard work of beating their opponents, making too many errors until a final flourish.

Things might have been easier, if captain Chris Aitken had taken either of the two glorious chances that came his way in the opening minutes, but these misses set the tone for the opening half. A lot of possession with little end product.

The biggest risk at the back was sloppiness, as speed of thought rarely matched speed of action, creating unnecessary alarms. One piece of individual brilliance was the difference at the half. Simon Monte took the ball on a mazy run and, having left five defenders floundering, he slammed the ball past the exposed keeper.

A second half avalanche was to come eventually, but only after Timperley enjoyed their best spell of the game. Pouncing on Bolton's mistakes, they pushed forward, forcing the home defence to make last ditch tackles and goal line clearances, though it was the width of the post that kept them ahead. Ultimately Bolton cracked, Mathieson's foot stopping the penalty corner strike, though no part of Neville's body could stop the ensuing penalty stroke.

Finally, at 1-1, Bolton began to play the fluid passing hockey that turned the match. First, Jones, Luke and Chadwick combined for Woods to put Aitken in on goal and the skipper made no mistake this time. Within seconds, Woods had pounced on a tired clearance and sent Monte through, for him to square the ball unselfishly for Aitken's second. Woods then added the fourth with a powerful flick at a penalty corner, which the keeper could only admire.

Time for silliness, as Woods was sin binned for a handbag moment after some rough tackles, but the team continued with the style. Aitken's through ball to Mathieson put him clear and though the neat combination with Short deserved a goal, the honour fell to Chadwick, who turned home the loose ball after a clever and unnecessary one-two with the post.