CHARNOCK Richard and Tempest United rose to the occasion last night as local football moved on to a bigger stage.

Over 1,700 spectators were at the Reebok as the two West Lancs League sides played out an entertaining Goldline Trophy final in association with the Bolton Evening News.

And how the players relished the wide open spaces and even surface, playing the game to a high standard with no shortage of pace.

Jon Senior, Tempest's experienced midfield player, who began his career with Wanderers before going on to play for Horwich RMI, Southport, Accrington Stanley and Chorley summed it up: "It's gives us a chance to show people that we can play good football at this level. After weeks of playing in ankle-deep mud it was a delight to come here and be able to move the ball around. I know we lost but it's been a great occasion for everyone connected with the club."

If anything, however, the surroundings seemed to over-awe Tempest in a first half when Charnock took early control, scoring the game's decisive goal.

"We started slowly and that cost us the game," admitted Tempest boss Mick Farnworth.

During that first 45 minutes Charnock lived up to their Premier Division status against their First Division rivals and with Steve Iley driving them from the back and with man of the match Lee Cunliffe and Josh Schofield bossing midfield, Tempest were relieved to see their keeper Andy Hassall in top form.

He tipped Kevin Fisher's stinging shot over the bar before pushing Dean Taylor's shot round a post but he was left standing as a Fisher cross-cum shot evaded him and landed on top of the bar befoire rebounding to safety.

Yet for all that the game's first clear-cut chance fell to Tempest, central defender Lee Holden diving in to meet Martin Horrobin's cross only to direct his header over the bar.

Charnock quickly responded to that by compressing the action into the Tempest half and when Taylor's 41st minute probing pass from the right found Andy Roberts, the Charnock skipper did the rest to slip the ball past Hassall.

Charnock looked set to build on that in the second half only to find Tempest a completely different proposition.

Suddenly the Bolton outfit began to find their passing game to open up the Charnock defence. Horrobin put Shaun Hill's cross inches over the bar and Richard Collier had another effort well saved by the keeper and although John Kerrigan forced Hassall into another good save at the other end, Tempest almost snatched the equaliser five minutes from time in a six yard box scramble with Charnock keeper Barry Edge brave enough to grab the ball at the feet of Lee Holden.

"I thought they'd taken us to extra time,' said Charnock manager Terry Gaskell. "They really came at us in the second half but we held it together and I think we just about deserved it.

"It was a marvellous occasion though and one the players won't forget. Hopefuly we'll be back next year to defend the trophy."