Squires Gate 0 Barnoldswick Town 0

IT might have been a goalless draw but Tuesday night's North West Counties League Premier Division certainly didn't lack goalmouth action.

Town welcomed James Crorken back into the starting line-up after his three-match suspension, and Jake McEneaney returned on the bench.

Town keeper Chris Taylor had to save low down from Alex Murphy in the fourth minute. Two minutes later Town nearly scored after a corner on the Gate left.

Mark Threlfall tried a shot as the ball came into a packed penalty area, the ball went goalwards but Matthew Cavanagh pushed it wide of the goal.

Town were doing a lot of pressing in the first 20 minutes and Scott Byram had a shot cleared off the line after good work by Threlfall .

The ball rebounded to Joel Melia whose shot was headed clear by Chris Anderson for a corner.

Threlfall again managed to get a dangerous cross in but Daniel Penswick cleared up under pressure.

The play now began to swing from end to end, a cross from the Town right found Alex Murphy on the six-yard line but the ball hit him on the back and dropped just over the bar.

The impetus now switched to the home side. Billy McKenna shot just wide after 25 minutes and a minute later a Brett Ferguson cross found Murphy who just failed to find the target.

Just on the half-hour mark Melia crossed to the far post, Paul Walker coming in just couldn’t stretch far enough to turn it in.

The second half started with a bang. Murphy cracked a free-kick against the Town bar. At the other end Byrom curled a 25 yard free-kick against the Gate woodwork with Ben Fletcher well beaten.

Melia brought a good save from Fletcher as he burst through on the left after 50 minutes. Five minutes later Byrom again hit the bar as he attempted to chip the keeper.

With both side striving for the opening goal Ferguson blasted over from a good position.

With five minutes left,Town brought Liam Hoyle on for Byrom and he was soon in the action. His cross found Threlfall whose header drifted just wide.

The last action of the night was from Town keeper Taylor as he made a great stop from a fierce close-range shot form Ferguson.