WINSFORD extended their winning streak to four with a comfortable victory.

This was also their fourth home success in the past five attempts, suggesting Joe Gibiliru's men have all but banished their Barton Stadium blues.

Persistence helped them tame bruising Bacup.

On-song front pair Phil Mason and Les Miranda made their intentions known as early as the fifth minute when the latter's cross was just out of the reach of his strike partner.

Five minutes later Mason returned the compliment but the ball ran away from leading scorer Miranda.

Mason's looping header from Lee Duckworth's free kick almost caught Bacup custodian David Gallagher off guard but he managed to tip over.

Winsford took the lead soon afterwards.

Duckworth started the move that flowed down the left to Chris Sheppard and his cross was turned in from close range by Ross Kennedy.

The closest the hosts came to adding to the score before the break was a Tony Sayer cross that Mason headed over and a John Bluck free kick that David Barnes headed against the post.

Darren Connell, returning from injury, replaced Mason after the interval and the burly striker made it clear he was looking to regain his place in the team.

Eight minutes into the half he broke clear and, shrugging off two attempts by Chris Cooper to halt his progress, he made his way into the box only for the visitor's defender to whip his legs from under him.

Cooper was given his marching orders and Connell stepped up to convert the spot kick.

Blues continued to dominate but they had to wait until the 71st minute for a third goal.

Bluck's free kick from the left looked to have missed everyone but Miranda, lurking at the far post, was unwilling to spurn such an opportunity and he turned the ball in.

Further efforts from Connell and Sheppard proved fruitless and Lee Madin - another striker trying to establish himself again - took the ball around Gallagher but his effort from an acute angle struck the post.

STAR MAN: Ian Callaghan
BLUES: Langley, Sayer, Duckworth, Barnes, Callaghan, Bluck, Ridler, Sheppard, Mason (Connell 46), Miranda (Madin 72), Kennedy (Ennion 72).