FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round

Newton Aycliffe 3 Barnoldswick Town 0

BARNOLDSWICK Town's players and supporters saw red as they made a sad exit from this season's FA Vase.

Much of their anger was directed towards the match officials after the visitors had three players sent off, received eight yellow cards and had two goals disallowed.

Striker Joe Gaughan, midfieldman Jack Hargreaves and assistant manager James Gill were all given their marching orders for comments made to the referee.

Writing in his programme notes for Tuesday's West Riding County Cup tie with Eccleshill United, manager Stewart Airdrie said: "The game was ruined by probably the worst official I have witnessed in my career, to have two goals disallowed eight yellow cards and three reds in a game where there wasn't one bad challenge, says it all."

The course of the game might have been different if Town had not had a goal ruled out in the fourth minute. Tom Henderson was ruled offside when he turned the ball home after Mark Threlfall had headed on Carl Ellerton's cross.

Dennis Knight proved to be a real threat for the home side and tested goalkeeper Jordan Gidley on a couple of occasions.

With half-time approaching Newton had two well worked attacks which saw the alert Gidley having to save from Knight and Zak Boagey, while Gaughan squandered a good chance for Barnoldswick Town.

The major talking point came early ion the second half. Town thought they had taken the lead when Threlfall turned the ball home after Chris Ridehalgh found space in the box from a Gaughan free kick.

Their joy was cut short when a linesman raised his flag late and Threlfall was ruled offside. Frustration turned to anger as the home side took the free kick quickly with the Town defence upfield. It left Stuart Banks with a clear run on goal but Gidley again came to the rescue.

Town were guilty of giving free-kicks away around the 30-yard mark and this was to lead to their downfall after 52 minutes when Knight curled a left-foot shot just inside the far post.

Five minutes later and Gidley again pulled off a great save but was beaten by Paul Garthwaite (64) and Newton substitute Jordan Laidler (90) as Town bowed out of the FA Vase on an afternoon they will want to forget.