WINSFORD put further distance between themselves and the drop zone following a convincing victory at lowly Bacup on Monday night.

Blues are 16 points better off than their hosts, who currently occupy a relegation place, after on-loan FC Halifax Town duo Dominic Marie and Jake Hibbs scored either side of Callam Gardner’s spot kick double.

Marie hit the net first on 11 minutes, finishing expertly after Sam Marshall played a pass perfectly into his path.

A second goal followed shortly afterwards, Gardner converting a penalty in emphatic fashion after Osebi Abadaki had been felled by Lee Oldham.

His foul was punished with a red card.

At the other end, Ryan Barrow’s tackle almost diverted the ball into his own net before Marshall had a goal ruled out after referee Chris Isherwood spotted a handball.

Bacup reduced their arrears seven minutes before the break, Adrian Bellamy shooting across goalkeeper Andy Jones.

The hosts applied pressure during the early exchanges after half time, appealing for a penalty without success.

Gardner forced goalkeeper Kieran O’Boyle into action when Winsford attacked next, the Bacup net-minder saving smartly to deny Barrow too.

Blues settled the outcome on 64 minutes when Gardner scored for a second time from the spot following a trip on the excellent Hibbs.

The teams traded chances in a more open contest, Gardner and Marie going closest for the visitors while Bellamy drilled off target when well-placed.

A fourth goal, Winsford’s best, arrived with a quarter of an hour left when Hibbs skipped around O’Boyle before squeezing the ball into the net from the narrowest of angles.

Bacup O’Boyle (GK), Bancroft, Bryan (Cosgrave 46), Wager (Kirk 71), Esdaile, Oldham, Bellamy, Finnigan, Humphries, McDonald, McKenzie (Cocks 46) Subs not used Westwood, Socha Goal Bellamy 37 Booked Cosgrave Sent off Oldham

Winsford Jones (GK), Gbemie, Barrow, Adigun, Drummond, Marshall (Banda 81), Hibbs, Rothwell, Gardner (Sherriff 73), Marie, Abadaki (Botwe 85) Sub not used Fielding (GK) Goals Marie 11, Gardner 22, 64 (both penalties), Hibbs 74 Booked Marshall, Botwe

Referee Chris Isherwood (Leyland)
Attendance 41