There is disclosed herein a printed circuit board (PCB) having improved resistance against solder bridging and component decentering/tombstoning. The printed circuit board (PCB) includes a substrate 10 having a top surface 12; at least two mounting pads 14 disposed on the top surface in matched relation with terminations 26 of an electronic component 24; and a solder mask 16 disposed on the top surface and having at least two apertures 18 therethrough, wherein each aperture generally conforms in shape with and is arranged about a respective one of the mounting pads 14. Each aperture 18 has at least one inner aperture edge 22i generally within a projected footprint F of the electronic component and at least one outer aperture edge 22o generally outside the footprint F. Each aperture 18 includes a notch 20 in one or more of the at least one outer aperture edge 22o, wherein each notch 20 extends generally outward from its respective mounting pad 14. The notch 20 provides a reservoir in the solder mask aperture 18 about each pad 14, into which flux, other solder paste effluents, and solder balls may be channeled and remain contained.