Droylsden were put to the sword by a scintillating display of attacking football at Nethermoor this evening, with the home side’s goals coming from close-season signings Wayne Brooksby, Josh Wilson and Nicky Boshell, new signing Stephen Brogan, and the returning Gavin Rothery.

Lee Rick’s late penalty conversion proved scant consolation for a totally-outclassed Droylsden side.

Former Lions striker Joe O’Neill put a glancing header just wide and Steve Hall had Steve Drench saving at the foot of the post as the visitors had the better of the opening exchanges, but once Nicky Boshell latched on to Gavin Rothery’s pass down the left channel on seven minutes and hit an unstoppable rising shot past Phillips the goalfest had begun.

Brother Danny put a free-kick just inches wide of the upright with Phillips beaten before a ball down the right set up interplay between Rothery and Wilson that ended with the latter rifling a shot across Phillips into the far corner to put the home side two up after just 22 minutes.

With Brooksby, Rothery, Wilson and the Boshells pulling a brittle-looking Bloods defence all over the park, only Phil Bolland’s outstretched leg prevented a third. Brooksby put a rasping shot the wrong side of the post and Drench again came to his side’s rescue to deny Tom Fisher and Hall in quick succession, but from the resulting breakaway Rothery played a ball out to Brooksby on the right for the former North Ferriby man to cut in and beat the advancing Phillips with a clinical finish into the corner of the net.

Ten minutes before the break, Nicky Boshell once again got the better of Nat Kerr and cheekily lobbed the ball over the visiting keeper for a sublime  finish to put the Lions four up. Rhys Meynell replaced Danny Boshell shortly afterwards.

Droylsden started on the attack after the restart, but Hall was lucky to escape with a caution after scything down Andy Holdsworth in front of the visitors’ dugout. However, if they thought the loss of playmaker Danny Boshell would hamper the rampant Lions the Bloods were given another lesson in attacking play as the home side added a trio of goals to their tally.

Brooksby created the first when he broke clear only to be tripped by the diving Philips, who received a yellow card for his misdemeanour as the Guiseley man was deemed to be going away from goal. Rothery dispatched the resulting spot kick with aplomb.

Gavin Rothery converts spot kick

Mike Connor got himself sent off for a second bookable offence before Rick finally managed to beat Drench, this time from the spot, even though the Lions’ keeper got a hand to the ball.

Phillips pulled off a fine save to deny Wilson, but it was only a temporary reprieve as the on-song striker soon converted his second of the night. New signing Brogan then wrapped up a fabulous display with an easy conversion of Nicky Boshell’s square ball across the box.

The victory puts the Lions on top of the pile as one of only four teams who have maximum points from both their opening games, being followed by promoted Brackley, Boston United and Colwyn Bay, who beat promotion favourites FC Halifax by a solitary goal at the Shay tonight.