BACUP'S legion of former Stand players were unable to prove to their old club they made the right move when they departed for West View as Brent Peters' side lost 1-0.

Paul Thompson, Micky Bartholomew, Lee Anderson and Tommy Allen were part of Stand's NWCL Division Two title-winning side of last season and now play at Bacup.

Most of the title-winning team disbanded after the club was refused promotion because of their ground but the new boys at Ewood Bridge have surprised a few this season.

They had a couple of Rossendale United players in their side as Dale didn't have a game on Saturday which may have contributed to their victory, but Bacup boss Peters admitted his side didn't deserve to win.

"We set off extremely well, Paul Thompson had a good chance after getting behind the keeper but the ball just got away from him," he said.

"In the 12th minute he scored what looked like a good goal but the referee disallowed it, saying he had pulled the defender back to get an advantage.

"I was disappointed because we started playing the long ball then, bypassing the midfield and both sides were cancelling each other out.

"I replaced Karl Stanley and Paul Stanley with Nicky Taylor and Paul Fildes at half-time and we started to play through the midfield causing them all sorts of problems.

"But we didn't get the luck we needed, the best chance we had was when Paul Fildes went through one on one but struck his shot straight at the keeper instead of squaring it which would have been better.

"That was our best chance even though we played some good football."

The game seemed to be heading for a draw when Rossendale winger Gareth Gardner popped up at the back post to head Stand into the lead in the 65th minute.

"In our system we should never concede a goal like that," said Peters. "We play a strict man-to-man marking system and Gardner he should not have got away from Ian McLelland like that.

"We should have got a point at least, I'm not sure we deserved all three but at least we should have had a point."

Peters has signed two more former Stand players: Steve Stott, last year's captain, and Stuart Telfer, from Winsford.

Peters now has five of last year's championship-winning side in his team.

STAND...1 BACUP...0