FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round

Ryhope Colliery Welfare FC 5 Barnoldswick Town 2

TOWN's hopes of making progress in the FA Vase were shattered in the North East.

Their cause wasn't helped by the absence of skipper Shaun Airey who was serving a one-match suspension, and Jake McEneaney through work commitments.

There was a further blow when they went a goal down as early as the fifth minute when Chris Ridehalgh deflected the ball into his own net after Ryhope centre half had headed the ball goalwards from a long throw in.

Minutes later they went further behind. A poor pass out of defence landed at the feet of Evans. He saw keeper Chris Taylor was off his line and promptly lobbed the ball over him.

Town’s first attempt on the Ryhope goal came after 14 minutes when Paul Walker tried a shot from the corner of the Ryhope penalty area, but it drifted wide of the far post.

Town should have pulled a goal back a minute later. Joel Melia dispossessed Ryhope skipper Phillip Hall on the edge of the penalty area and found himself with only keeper Barry Poskett to beat.

Melia looked odds on to score but his disappointing shot was comfortably saved by Poskett.

Ryhope rubbed salt in Town's wounds by going straight down the other end and scoring from a defensive howler.

Ridehalgh tried to cushion a header back to Taylor but was dismayed to see the ball go past the keeper to put Ryhope 3-0 up after just 15 minutes.

To their credit, Town continued to try to get back into the game. Melia had a shot from just outside the penalty area saved by Poskett.

Five minutes before half-time Andrew Appleby had a great chance to score Ryhope’s fourth goal but his shot was saved by Taylor.

Ryhope more or less sealed the match on stroke of half-time when Craig Hughes cracked a fierce shot past Taylor to put Ryhope4-0 up.

Town made two substitutions at half-time, Stewart Airdrie and John Beckwith replacing Carl Ellerton and Ridehalgh. Ryhope also made a change with Stoker replacing Braithwaite.

Town created a bit of pressure as they strived to rescue the match. Matthew Cavanagh and Melia both had shots charged down by desperate defending.

Ryhope made another substitution after 66 minutes with Appleby being replaced by Jack Pounder.

And Pounder made his mark four minutes later when he headed the ball into the net at the far post to put the home team 5-0 up.

Town never gave up, and were rewarded when player-manager Stewart Airdrie – playing at centre back – burst through the middle of the Ryhope defence before putting Melia in. This time he slotted the ball home.

James Gill replaced Chris Simpson a minute later, and almost immediately he nearly pulled another goal back. He flicked the ball just over the bar.

Deep into injury time the ever-probing Melia pulled another goal back to make the final score 5-2.

The Vase journey was over and now they have to focus on the crucial league matches they have coming up as they look to pull away from the North West Counties Premier Division relegation zone