Rothwell Athletic 0

Baildon Trinity Athletic 7

Baildon Trinity Athletic controlled their first league game of 2002 from the first whistle to the last against a very poor Rothwell side.

The pitch was very sticky and both sides found it extremely difficult to pass the ball and find the right men.

Darren Thornton began the rout with a wonderfully taken right foot shot from the edge of the area, and from that moment on there was only ever going to be one winner.

Thornton grabbed the second with another smart strike leaving the 'keeper helpless.

The disappointing aspect from a Baildon point of view was the number of chances that they were missing.

Although it didn't matter in this game, similar chances against better opposition will need to be taken if Baildon are to gain promotion.

The encouraging thing was that Baildon were actually creating chances, and Paul Clarke took his with a thunderbolt into the top corner.

The score was 3-0 at half-time and the message from manager Karl Zanft was 'more goals'.

Goal difference could well be a factor come the end of the season.

Baildon emerged and continued to miss chances.

Nick James tapped in a fourth following a goalkeeping error after a deep cross from Steve Hiley.

Thornton and James were then replaced by Danny Steele and Matthew Nunn and it was Nunn who scored with his first touch, latching on to a through ball and beating the 'keeper.

Steele nodded in a sixth and Danny Jowett made it seven late on with a cracking left foot strike.

Baildon won this game without ever reaching top gear and are in third place in the West Yorkshire Division One table, nine points from the summit with two games in hand.