Beadle's about as Northwich secure victory at Barnoldswick Town

The absence of inspirational player Joel Melia dealt Barnoldwick Town a major blow as they slipped to defeat at home to 1874 Northwich.

Bright sunshine greeted the players at the Silentnight Beds Stadium and after a decent, albeit losing, midweek performance at second-placed Glossop North End, Town were optimistic that they might pull off a shock against high-flying Northwich.

But then Melia had to pull out due to a groin strain just before kick-off, Anthony Pollard taking his place.

Northwich were the first to show when Matthew Beadle forced Pollard into a last-ditch tackle to save the day after ten minutes.

Play swung from end to end, Harry Thompson seeing a shot from the edge of the Northwich penalty area skip past Matthew Conkie’s goal after 15 minutes.

Moments later Town were in front. Jack Tinning fired the ball across the penalty area and, although it eluded Thomas Henderson, Thompson arrived at the far post to strike a sweet shot past Conkie.

Northwich pressed for an equaliser and a poor header out of the Town defence was picked up by Jordan Johnson, who struck a fierce shot goalwards which forced Scott Reid to dive to his right and tip the ball over the crossbar.

The Town defence did succumb after 23 minutes when they failed to deal with a corner. Reid saved close-range shots from Michael Brandon and Daniel Thomas before Thomas netted.

Thompson hit the top of Conkie’s right-hand post from the edge of the penalty area – and a minute later he was in the thick of the action at the other end when he cleared the ball from almost on the line when Beadle managed to get a shot past the advancing Reid.

Northwich finally went ahead after 37 minutes when Reid misjudged his attempt to collect a corner. He palmed the ball out but it hit Pollard and rebounded into the net.

Right on the stroke of half-time, Reid saved a Beadle shot with his feet and looked on as Michael Brandon failed to turn the ball into the net.

Zachary Cooper hit Conkie’s bar from just outside the box in the 55th minute but there was no Town player able to collect the rebound.

Northwich went straight down to the Town end and Beadle again forced Reid into making a good save but the ball flew up in the air and Beadle reacted quickest to score.

Substitutes Mark Threlfall, Scott Byrom and Matthew Cavanagh were introduced as Town chased the game.

Gaps started appeared in their defence and Reid saved twice from Matthew Woolley before, two minutes into injury time, Chris Lunn completed the scoring.