Barnoldswick Town 1 Colne 4

TOWN'S hopes of lifting themselves out of the Premier Division relegation zone were scuppered by one of their former players.

Danny Boyle netted a hat-trick as the visitors came from behind to increase the home team's problems.

Town, who made five changes to the side beaten 2-01 at Abbey Hey, took a deserved lead after ten minutes.

Mark Threlfall and Joel Melia started the move which saw Harry Thompson square the ball into the path of John Beckwith who shot past Chris Thompson in the Colne goal.

Town were dominating the play and Threlfall was unlucky to see a volley rebound to safety off the chest of the goalkeeper while Beckwith shot narrowly over the bar after good work from the impressive Harry Thompson.

Beckwith forced keeper Thompson to nudge the ball over his bar as he headed goalwards from another Town corner.

Witheight minutes to go to half-time Town should have had a penalty. Beckwith looked to be pulled back in the penalty area but the referee ignored their appeals.

Just as Town were thinking of going into half-time a goal in front Colne were awarded a penalty when Airey was adjudged to have fouled Boyle inside the penalty area in the 45th minutes. Boyle himself easily scoring his 11th goal of the season.

Colne took the lead after 48 minutes, Jonathan Hodgkinson played a great ball over the Town defence for Boyle who netted off the far post.

Boyle was now causing problems. Two minutes later Chris Ridehalgh was forced to clear Boyle's shot off the line.

Town replied with Melia feeding Walker on the Colne left, his shot was half blocked on the edge of the Colne penalty area, Thompson diving to save at the foot of his post.

Beckwith went close to an equaliser with an overhead kick before Boyle completed his hat-trick in the 59th minute.

Airey made a hash of a clearance and that let Boyle in to complete his hat-trick.

Town introduced Kieran Lee for Beckwith to try to get back into the match but it was Boyle who nearly made it four with a fierce shot which was saved by Taylor.

Martin Broderick saw a shot drift just wide before Colne scored their fourth goal. Once again the Town defence were found wanting with Chris Anderson latching onto a ball over the top to round Taylor and score.