Barnoldswick Town 2 Maine Road 3
There was disappointment for Barnoldswick Town as their new-look team was defeated in its opening Premier Division game on Saturday.

New signings Matthew Warburton, Jake McEneaney, Callum Smith and new skipper Adam Hayton were all in the starting line up, while Luke Bradbury was on the substitutes’ bench.

Town had barely settled when they fell behind after six minutes. The home defence was caught flat footed as the ball was played through the middle for the unmarked Saul Henderson to run on and beat goalie Billy Carrington from just inside the penalty area.

The game was nip and tuck with both defences on top. Then out of the blue new-boy Smith picked up the ball 35 yards out and ran at the Maine Road defence.

His shot from the edge of the penalty area beat the dive of Gregory Hall in the Maine Road goal before going in off the far post for a fine equaliser after 15 minutes.

Maine Road hit back with Carrington having to make a good save after 23 minutes to punch away a swerving shot from Maine Road full back James Rothel.

At the other end Danny Boyle brought a good save from Hall with a fierce shot from 25 yards after 34 minutes.

When play swung immediately to the other end, Danny Morton conceded a free kick just outside the penalty area.

The free kick into the Town penalty area caused panic and the ball dropped to the feet of Joshua Gittings who blasted over from 12 yards when he should at least have hit the target.

At the other end, Smith jinked his way to the edge of the penalty area, his shot was partially blocked allowing Hall to dive and make a good save low down at the foot of his post.

The final play of the half saw Aaron Hollindrake cleverly slip past a Maine Road defender before cutting into the area and shooting straight at Hall.

It was Hollindrake’s last piece of the action as he was replaced at the break by Bradbury. Maine Road sent on Matthew Beadle for Jack Lang- ford.

Town started positively in the second half. Bradbury shot straight at Hall after a good Town move after 51 minutes.

Then disaster struck. Substitute Beadle got himself onto the end of a Moran cross to slot home from six yards out in the 57th minute.

Town pressed for the equaliser and Kieran Lee shot narrowly wide from Hayton’s fine pass but they were rocked by another setback after 75 minutes.

A Billy Priestley back pass fell just short of Carrington. The goalie managed to get to the ball first but his clearance cannoned off the legs of Henderson into the net.

It took Town seven minutes to pull a goal back. A shot into a crowded Maine Road penalty area found the hand of a defender and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.

Boyle easily stepped up to fire the ball into the net.

Although Town pressed for an equaliser the Maine Road defence stood firm to secure their win.

Town will feel that they deserved a point against last season’s runners up, but that’s football.

Barnoldswick were due to be in action last night at Bacup & Rossendale Borough.

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