Barnoldswick Town 1 Ashton Athletic 6

AFTER two good performances had lifted Town out of the relegation positions there was plenty of optimism about Saturday’s fixture.

Chris Taylor was back in goal after missing five games through injury. and there was a full debut for new signing Michael Woodvine from Colne.

Sadly their hopes were hit for six as Ashton Athletic recovered from going behind early in the game to register an emphatic victory.

Ryan Small shot wide for Ashton before Town took a fifth-minute lead. Paul Walker's free kick swerved at the last moment as it travelled towards the far post causing Ashton skipper Ian Rowlands to head into the far top corner of his own net.

Town had another chance a minute later when Joel Melia released John Beckwith down the middle but Rowlands produced a great saving tackle as the striker hesitated.

Adam Gilchrist saw his shot deflect off Town's Jake McEneaney and cannon back off the bar while Walker did well to deflect a goalbound Paul Watson shot wide of Taylor’s goal.

Melia skimmed the Ashton bar before the visitors equalised in the 25th minute. Watson drilled a great shot past Taylor from the edge of the penalty area.

Taylor was then called into action on a regular basis to save shots from Sam Bailey and Small as Ashton pressed for another goal.

Town had a golden chance to take the lead just before half-time when Beckwith was brought down in the box. Mark Threlfall took the spot kick but Jason Foulds saved it.

After the interval it only took Ashton five minutes to take the lead. A free-kick on the Town right to the far post saw Ashton centre half Luke Holden arrive unmarked to head home.

Worse was to follow two minutes late when Rowlands nipped between Anthony Pollard and McEneaney to side foot home from a corner.

Pollard was stretchered off with an ankle injury before Watson fired his second goal when Town failed to clear a corner.

Town conceded another goal after 74 minutes when Rowlands took advantage of a disorganised defence to score from another corner.

Town had a sharp chance a minute later, sub Michael Hodson firing a shot inches wide of Foulds right hand post as Adam Cringle slid in to tackle him.

But it was Ashton who scored again, Rowlands unmarked, scoring at the far post from another free-kick.

It crowned a dreadful second-half display from Town.