RICHMOND Town came up against Annfield Plain for the second time in four days last Saturday.

Having previously come away from Derwent Park with three points thanks to a dramatic 2-1 victory with a Scott Ryan goal and an injury time winner from Alex Caisley, they brushed aside The Plainsmen 8-1 in the Shipowners Cup first round tie.

In a game played in torrential rain, it took only nine minutes for Town to break the deadlock. Kalumn Holbrook won back possession and picked out Chris Pattison, whose pass split the Annfield Plain defence for Ryan to race through and score his 13th goal of the season.

Holbrook then almost chipped home keeper Joseph Longstaff, who recovered to tip the ball over the bar, before Shaun Radford produced an inch-perfect pass to Nathan O'Connor, who was denied by the keeper's legs.

It was 2-0 after 27 minutes when Ryan beat the offside trap after a superb run and pass from O'Connor. Lee White was next to turn provider for Ryan, who again put the ball in the net to complete his hat-trick with only 35 minutes played.

Annfield were given a lifeline when Jake Hall scored five minutes before the break, but any hope of a fightback vanished just three minutes into the second half when Ryan scored his and Town's fourth.

O'Connor brought a good save from Longstaff, who moments later was lucky to receive only a yellow card after a foul on Ryan three yards outside the box. The Richmond captain suffered an ankle injury in the collision and was replaced soon after.

From the resulting free kick, Holbrook left Longstaff stranded as he curled his shot into the top corner.

Minutes after making his debut from the bench, Stephen Butterworth added a sixth when he burst into the box and poked the ball home from 15 yards out. The linesman ruled it out because Colin Anderson was in an offside position, but the striker resisted the temptation to touch the ball as it trickled over the line and, after a few words with his colleague, the referee rightly awarded the goal.

Richmond keeper Karl Latcham then kept out Craig Suggett, but it wasn't long before Town were back at the other end making it seven. Anderson's run took him past three defenders before picking out Butterworth, who smashed the ball home from the edge of the area.

Anderson's header was pushed over the bar by Longstaff, who then saved again from Pattison. O'Connor's performance deserved a goal, but he was ruled to have used his arm when he did find the net, then Butterworth saw his powerful shot come back off the bar after a good run by Pattison.

Anderson then crossed for another substitute, Gary Hutchinson, who should have scored.

Holbrook scored his second and Richmond's eighth 10 minutes from time when he produced a wonderful chip which Longstaff could only watch on its way into the net.

Richmond manager Chris Lax said he couldn't fault any of his squad and looked forward to tomorrow's clash with Horden CW at Earls Orchard, kick-off 2.30pm.