Town's makeshift side bow out (From Craven Herald)

Town's makeshift side bow out

12:23pm Thursday 21st February 2013 in Sport By Pete Naylor

Barnoldswick Town 2 Formby Town 3

by Pete Naylor Town’s makeshift side were sunk by a last-gasp penalty as they bowed out of the League Challenge Cup at the Silentnight Stadium on Saturday.

New managers Kevin Richardson and Paul Fildes had five players, Billy Carrington, James Nettleton, Martin Broderick, Andrew Lee and Thomas Bradley cup tied and a further three Lewis Jordan, Matthew Cavanagh and Aaron Hollindrake out injured.

It meant that six of the team that started the match hadn’t played a full 90 minutes in the past month so the defeat to a Division One side that has lost only once this season wasn’t such a surprise.

To add to their woes they had five players, Shaun Airey, Ashley Alderson, Richardson, Chris Ridehalgh and Bill Priestley booked by referee Michael Bonage which means a £150 fine for the club.

Formby started off the better of the two sides with Francis Smith running the midfield with his intelligent play.

Formby’s pressure was rewarded when they took a 21st-minute lead. Full back Marvin Molyneux fired a ferocious shot past Sam Arrowsmith from a 25-yard free kick.

Airey and Ashley Alderson were cautioned in quick succession before Formby almost extended their lead. The league’s leading scorer Jason Carey saw his shot saved by Arrowsmith. The ball looped up towards the Town net and Priestley had to head it out for a corner.

Town made positional changes after the break and equalised after 53 minutes when a Fildes’ shot hit the top of Joshua O’Connell’s left-hand post and cannoned back to the Priestley who netted with a diving header.

Town pressed and went ahead in the 66th minute when Airey and Harry Thompson created the chance for Fildes to score with a curling shot.

Formby were stung into action and equalised four minutes later when Ridehalgh gave away a penalty and Michael White scored from the spot.

Town should have won the match in the 90th minute. Stewart Airdrie, who had started the match and did well to last the distance, was put clean through.

He went round O’Connell in the centre of the goal then somehow lost his balance and the chance was gone.

As everyone was looking at extra time Emini Adegbenro cut along the goalline towards the Town goal. The ball looked to be going out for a goal kick when Priestley bundled him over. The referee awarded another penalty which White dispatched comfortably once again for the winning goal.