THE WHITE Tigers crashed out of the Buildbase FA Trophy with a 5-0 reverse at Stockport County.
It took our hosts just three minutes to take the lead when Stephenson fed Warburton who found the bottom corner beyond the reach of Buse.
The opening exchanges saw the home side asking all of the questions, during which time Jamie Richards was booked for a foul.
We were temporarily reduced to ten men whilst Lewington was patched up following a head injury and it wasn’t long before we fell two goals behind when a neat move saw Thomas get in a strike that was parried by Buse and Warburton was on hand to guide the rebound home.
Our first sight of goal came as the half-hour mark approached when Harvey was able to get in a strike that was easy for the home ‘keeper to save.
Moments later we fell further behind as Keane set-up by Warburton for his hat-trick and then within a minute of that hitting the back of the net, Stephenson was able to make it 4-0, leaving us with a real mountain to climb.
We were having to work hard to keep our hosts at bay as they eyed more goals and we had to defend a series of corners as the opening period came to a close.
Warburton went close to adding to his tally when Thomas’ cross fell at his feet in front of goal but he fired over.
There was a good save from young loanee Buse on the stroke of half-time as he tipped a Keane strike around the post.
Buse was called into action early in the second period to deny Mulhern, who then got in a deft header that crept inches wide in the next raid.
The home side were seeing plenty of the ball in attacking situations with Stephenson and Warburton both going close.
The fifth goal finally arrived when Warburton showed quick feet to evaded a number of challenges before he guided the ball into the net to make it 5-0.
In a rare foray forward, Lewington latched onto a through-ball only for Hinchcliffe in the home goal to block, whilst at the other end, Kirby was denied by Buse.
The last action saw Buse make a great save to tip over Mulhern’s first-time effort and then from the corner that followed, Walker fired over from a good position in front of goal.
It brought an end to a tie in which we were second-best throughout.

WHITE TIGERS: Buse, Thompson, Riley-Lowe, J. Richards, Bentley, Booth, D. Rooney, Battle, Keats (L. Rooney 85), Harvey, Lewington. Subs not used: Bignot, Meaker.
BOOKING(S): J. Richards

PHOTO: Josh Miller.