Barnoldswick Town 1 Winsford United 1

TOWN gave themselves a little more breathing space in their bid to avoid relegation from the Premier Division with a hard-earned point .

It means they are now three points above the drop zone with two games in hand over AFC Blackpool.

Stewart Airdrie had more or less a full squad to select from with Scott Byrom named in the team after his return from Padiham.

Town were the first to attack, Joel Melia beating Lee Wilshaw before putting in a cross that was cut out at the near post.

Winsford then had a decent attack which ended with Daniel Egan clipping a shot just over Scott Reid’s bar, the ball nestling on top of the net. Reid had to be vigilant two minutes later to make a good save from Samuel Marshall.

Melia was a constant threat to the Winsford defence. He picked the ball up just inside the Winsford half on the quarter-hour mark, and went on a mazy run through the heart of the Winsford defence and his final shot from the edge of the penalty area was deflected for a corner.

The next 15 minutes was nip and tuck with both defences on top. Town won three corners on the trot but were unable to trouble Conor O’Keefe in the Winsford goal. The home side also had an escape when Harry Thompson cleared the ball away from almost on the goal-line as an incoming shot beat Reid.

The players were getting frustrated with the match officials. The final yellow card tally being won by Winsford 6-4 in a game that had only the odd poor tackle.

With eight minutes to half-time Reid was quickly off his line to block a Winsford player just outside his penalty area, the ball fell to another Winsford player who drilled his shot wide of the far post.

Melia had the last play of the half when he again went on a mazy run into the Winsford penalty area. He appeared to be brought down inside the box but the referee waved play on.

The second half started with one of the best moves of the match. Tom Henderson played the ball to Melia who in turn found Zachary Cooper but the youngster's shot flew just over O’Keefe’s crossbar.

A minute later, Reid saved the day for Town when he palmed a point-blank shot from Egan away from goal. The rebound fell to one of the Winsford forwards but his shot was cleared off the line.

Melia created a chance at the other end when he crossed the ball to the far post where Jack Tinning shot into the side netting.

Town made a telling substitution when Mark Threlfall replaced Henderson for the final 20 minutes. Within a minute he had opened the scoring. His powerful header from Melia's fine cross beat O'Keefe.

Winsford went close to equalising after 78 minutes when Eli Mitchell fired wide of Reid’s goal from a good position. But three minutes later Winsford did equalise. A Town attack was broken up in the Winsford penalty area and the ball was played down the Town left to Daniel Egan. He drew Reid from his goal before slipping the ball past him.

Both teams went in search of a winning goal and Town went closest. Martin Broderick's ferocious 25-yard free kick forced a superb save from O'Keefe.