Padiham deliver unwelcome hat-trick for Barnoldswick Town (From Craven Herald)

Padiham deliver unwelcome hat-trick for Barnoldswick Town

9:40am Thursday 3rd January 2013 in Sport By Pete Naylor

Padiham 3, Barnoldswick Town 0

Barnoldswick Town suffered their third successive defeat in Boxing Day’s North West Counties League Premier Division clash at Padiham.

The visitors had three new signings in their squad – Andy Lee from Silsden, Oliver Devenney from Clitheroe and Martin Broderick from Padiham – but only Lee started.

The match was lucky to go ahead as rain began to fall quite heavily just before kick-off on an already heavy pitch.

Padiham settled quickly and took the lead after nine minutes when a corner on the Town left was only half-cleared. When the cross came back in, Neil Stansfield had time to score from close in.

There was another let off for Town minutes later when another cross slipped from the grasp of Billy Carrington on the Town goal-line onto the head of a Padiham forward, but fortunately it rebounded back into the keeper’s hands.

Town’s first effort came after 15 minutes when Liam Blades tested Sean Davis in the Padiham goal with a shot that skipped off the wet turf.

The visitors fell further behind in the 19th minute. Joe Garvin curled a free-kick into the top right-hand corner of Carrington’s net with the keeper rooted to the spot.

Town were struggling to keep rampant Padiham at bay as they poured forward at every opportunity, Carrington saving from Garvin and Stansfield.

However, Danny Boyle went close for Town when he forced Davis to tip his fierce shot over the bar after a good move.

Lee shot just over the bar before Billy Priestley released Boyle down the Padiham right but his shot was just wide.

On the stroke of half-time, another long pass found Boyle, and he took the ball into the Padiham penalty area past a defender.

Davis tried to get to the ball but failed, forcing Boyle out wider than he really wanted which resulted in his final cross flashing across the face of goal with nobody able to apply the finishing touch.

Priestley and Lee linked up well at the start of the second half to put Paul Fildes in just outside the penalty area but his final shot well saved by Davis.

At the other end, Padiham won a corner and Harry Thompson was forced to clear the ball off the line at the far post.

Town made a triple substitution after 55 minutes, with Ashley Alderson, Thompson and Fildes making way for Aaron Hollindrake, Mark Threlfall and Oliver Devenney.

Six minutes later, Padiham extended their lead to 3-0. Another free-kick on the Town left was allowed to get to the far post where three Town defenders were beaten to the ball in a scramble by Sam Morris.

Play then went from end to end with both sides creating chances. Garvin and Mark Sharples twice tested Carrington, while substitute Tom Bradley hit the bar.

At the other end, Steve Cunningham managed to block a Threlfall shot before Priestley glanced a header from a corner to the far post but Threlfall was unable to take advantage.

In the final minute, Threlfall looked set to pull a goal back but his shot was blocked.

On Saturday, Barnoldswick Town are at ninth-placed Stockport Sports, who are a place and two points above Town. Town’s reserves host Ashton Town.