THE divisional gap between Vodkat League Premier Division Ramsbottom and their First Division opponents Cheadle Town was evident on an afternoon when the Rams could quite easily have doubled their tally.

The game was effectively over after just 10 minutes as the hosts raced into a three-goal lead against a shell-shocked Cheadle team who were facing the next 80 minutes with just 10 men.

The one-way traffic began in the first minute when Andy Sensale’s excellent cross was not met by a team-mate, but seconds later another superb delivery found the head of Anthony Johnson, who made no mistake from six yards out.

Josh Hill was inches away with an overhead kick before the home side doubled their lead. On eight minutes, it was Johnson again as he dived in to meet a left-wing cross from Matt Edgington to head home.

Two minutes later dangerman Johnson was again in the thick of the action. He raced onto a Sensale through ball, only to be brought down in the penalty area by McDonagh, who was shown the red card. Bernard Morley lashed home the penalty.

Cheadle scored a goal out of the blue on 22 minutes when they were awarded a free-kick just outside the box, and McCormack scored with a perfectly executed effort.

Four minutes into the second half and, after a string of chances had gone begging, Johnson was denied a hat-trick when his fiercely struck free-kick smashed against the underside of the bar.

On 75 minutes Ellis scored the goal of the game with a superb 25-yard effort that gave the Cheadle keeper no chance.

Chances continued to come thick and fast before Matt Edgington finally produced a fifth on 84 minutes when Joel Pilkington’s close-range effort was palmed away, only to find Edgington on the left-hand side of the box, and he rifled in an angled drive to complete the rout.