Barnoldswick win for new bosses (From Craven Herald)

Barnoldswick win for new bosses

10:45pm Thursday 7th February 2013 in Sport By Pete Naylor

Barnoldswick Town 3 Stockport Sports 0

Town’s new management duo of Kevin Richardson and Paul Fildes were given a dream start at the Silentnight Stadium on Saturday, despite having to field a threadbare squad which had only two substitutes.

The omens didn’t look good when they were confronted by a selection headache before the game.

Billy Priestley, Ashley Alderson and Oliver Devenney were all serving suspensions while Aaron Hollindrake, Harry Thompson, and Neil Chapman were all ruled out by injury while Liam Garbutt was unavailable.

To add to the problems, Liam Blades was carrying a slight knock so he was restricted to a place on the substitutes’ bench.

Danny Morton and Matthew Cavanagh were drafted into the starting line up and new signing James Nettleton was thrust into a central defensive pairing. with Richardson With Martin Broderick making his first start for the club, the only other substitute was Paul Fildes.

The opening 26 minutes saw both Billy Carrington and his opposite number Mark Pullman not being required to make a save with both defences snuffing out any danger well before it reached the penalty areas.

However the match kicked into life with first Broderick and then Danny Boyle, twice, shooting over Pullman’s crossbar.

The chance for Boyle’s second shot came from a Mark Threlfall header which put him clear on goal, unfortunately as he shot from just inside the penalty area the ball popped up off a divot and the shot came off his shin.

Threlfall then took the ball down well inside the Stockport penalty area before drilling a shot at goal that Pullman saved at the near post with his feet.

Town were then forced to make an injury related substitution with Morton being replaced by Blades after 35 minutes.

Threlfall was beginning to cause problems for the Stockport defence, and one inviting cross flashed across the goalmouth.

The first real threat to the Town goal came after 43 minutes when Sam Menelou then Reuben De Rossicas headed over from good positions. The half ended with a Threlfall cross finding Boyle who shot over from the edge of the penalty area.

Town came out in the second half looking more threatening.

Blades played a great ball out of defence to Boyle who in turn found Andrew Lee just inside the penalty area, but a lunging tackle halted his progress before he could unload a shot at goal.

Town took the lead after 56 minutes, when a corner from the right was only half cleared.

Boyle picked up the loose ball, twisted and shot towards goal. The ball was only half cleared and Threlfall headed home.

As Stockport pushed forward they left gaps in their defence, and Town increased their lead after 68 minutes.

A cross deep into the Stockport penalty area found Boyle unmarked and eight yards out.

His powerful volley beat Pull- man’s left hand and hit the post before cannoning off the keeper’s back over the line.

Stockport forward with their skipper Ricky Anane and Aaron Baines both going close to scoring, but the pairing of Richardson and Nettleton stood firm.

But it was Town who finished the stronger and Lewis Jordan completed the scoring with two minutes left.

Blades hit a free kick to the far post where Threlfall rose above everybody to head over Pullman.

The ball hit the crossbar and bounced down almost on the line. before Jordan touched it home.

Town are home to Ashton Athletic on Saturday before visiting AFC Liverpool on Tues