AFC Liverpool 3 Barnoldswick Town 1

TOWN’S woes continued when Matthew Cavanagh had to withdraw from the squad due to an injury picked up in training.

Liverpool were the first to show when Francis Barry screwed a shot just wide of Chris Taylor’s goal after three minutes.

The hosts continued to pour forward and were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the Town penalty area, Taylor diving to make a good save from the kick.

Taylor again had to be alert after 12 minutes as James Robinson was put through just inside the Town half, Taylor just getting to the ball first to clear outside his penalty area.

It was all out attack from Liverpool with the Town forwards not being able to keep the ball for any length of time. Neville Picton had a shot on target deflected just wide for a corner after 17 minutes, and three minutes later Taylor dived to palm another shot from the same player over the crossbar.

Town's first shot on target came after 21 minutes when Scott Byrom fired a weak effort straight at Ryan Jones in the Liverpool goal. Corners were being won at will by Liverpool as the pressure on the Town goal mounted. Carl Peers drove a shot just the wrong side of a post.

Joel Melia produced Town's best effort which whistled past the Liverpool goal before the visitors took a surprise lead. Paul Walker bundled the ball in from the edge of the six-yard box from a Byrom corner.

Town should have increased their lead right on the stroke of half-time, Melia released Jake McEneaney down the middle. With two Liverpool defenders giving chase and Ryan Jones coming off his line, he delayed his shot too long and the ball was taken off his foot by Darren Torpey as he prepared to shoot.

Town started the second half on the attack, Byrom crossing towards Mark Threlfall and Harry Thompson who were just unable to get something on the ball.

Liverpool equalised in the 53rd minute when Cox beat Taylor with a short which appeared to swerve on its way to the net

Martin Broderick forced a fine save from Jones and Melia kept the defence on their toes with a couple of exciting runs. Substitute Chris Simpson and James Crorken missed good chances before Liverpool sealed the points.

Sean Calland, who had come on as a substitute two minutes earlier, gave his side an 80th minute lead when he curled a great shot in to the far top corner.

Five minutes he netted his second goal to kill off Town's hopes of snatching a point.