TROWBRIDGE buried Easington under an avalanche of second half goals on Saturday to bring a welcome end to a depressing run of three defeats in four league games.

Manager Neil Kirkpatrick said the key to the resounding win was the superior fitness of his players, as Easington faded in the final 30 minutes. Kirkpatrick said the secret to his side's high energy levels was an embarrassing defeat to Toolstation League outfit Frome Town during one of his first games in charge at Woodmarsh.

He said: "Frome ran us ragged in a pre-season friendly four years ago and since then I made a promise to myself that my team would always be match fit. "It's a credit to the lads that they have managed to keep themselves in such good shape. Even when we are not training some of them take upon themselves to go running."

"We played well for 90 minutes against Headington and we deserved to beat Winterbourne last week, so it was important to take three points here. There are no easy games between now and the end of the season but we just have keep winning. It's as simple as that."

Neither goalkeeper was troubled until the 13th minute when Lewis Porter saved well from Easington striker James Read. Chris Tricker's goalbound header was cleared off the line after 21 minutes and Adrian Barnes blazed over eight minutes before half time.

An excellent through ball from Dean Barker sent Dave Percival clear five minutes after the restart, but the Bees hitman saw his effort clawed behind by the O'Connor in the Easington goal. Percival made amends for his miss when his cross from the left wing was deflected beyond O'Connor just after the hour mark.

Barker gave the Woodmarsh outfit a two-goal cushion with a neat turn and shot from close range after 70 minutes. The luckless Easington defence then conceded a second own goal with 12 minutes remaining. This time a defender chested the ball past O'Connor, with Barker waiting to pounce.

Substitute Dan Crease replaced the injured Chris Tricker and created the Bees' fourth goal in second half stoppage time. O'Connor failed to deal with Crease's lob and Barker was presented with a simple tap in to give Trowbridge a comprehensive 4-0 victory.

Kirkpatrick said afterwards: "Easington were not the best side we have played this season but it was an important win. It was a patient display and we told the players at half-time that if they got one goal, they could score three or four."

The Bees entertain Hook Norton at Woodmarsh tomorrow (Saturday), when striker Dean Barker will be hoping to score against his former club. Supporters are reminded that the game kicks off at 2.30pm.