Joey chips in (From Warrington Guardian)

Joey chips in

Winsford United 1 Bamber Bridge 0

UniBond Premier

By Nick Smith

WINSFORD United proved, when they went to table-topping Bamber Bridge in February, that the loss of half of their squad wasn't going to affect the players' attitudes.

More than a month on from that game, Mark Came's first as caretaker manager, those who have stuck with the Blues should take a bow as they swept aside the same opponents to give Came his first league win.

What a contrast to the last home game against Hyde, when a crowd of 270 were treated to a below-par performance which ended in a deflating 2-0 defeat.

On Saturday, that number had shrunk to 181, bizarrely, the third time that attendance has been recorded at Barton Stadium this season.

But the sun was out once again and, while the heat was always going to drain the players' energy, the mood after this win had to be a bright one.

The only goal of the contest came on 25 minutes and it was literally a blast from the past.

Alan Hockenhull, who held the ball up well and showed some impressive touches on his return to the Blues, laid the ball back to Joey Roberts on the right edge of the penalty area.

The forward, who returned to Winsford from Witton last month, sent a delightful lob into the far corner of Alex Harrison's net.

The reason this strike was enough to win the game was that behind Roberts and the rest of the front players, stood a calm, confident and colossal back four.

The absence of Gary Talbot was forgotten as Leroy Dove swooped into his boots at the heart of the defence, alongside new captain Steve Hibbert.

Apart from an Ian Vickers header which hit the bar and a clear chance for Stuart Cliffe, which he prodded wide, the boys at the back limited Bamber Bridge's attacking options. They played it simple and closed in like hungry wolfhounds at every opportunity.

Kevin Thelwell, another making a return to the fold, was also who turned in a solid display at the back.

The day would have had the perfect ending if Gareth Langley, who came on as a late substitute could have scored a debut goal.

The big chance for the 17-year-old came five minutes from time, but he miscontrolled Hockenhull's fine crossfield pass and Harrison collected at his feet.

Winsford: Bagnall, German, Thelwell, Hibbert, Dove, Wheeler, Roberts, Thimpson, Whittaker (sub Bridge 71), Hockenhull, Critchley (Langley 75).

Man of the Match: Leroy Dove

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.