Barnoldswick Town 1 Runcorn Linnets 5

THE Barnoldswick Town groundstaff did a great job in getting the game played after the Silentnight Beds Stadium pitch was under water on Friday, but they were powerless to stop their club sliding deeper into the Premier Division relegation mire.

They are now just three points ahead of Bacup and Rossendale Borough who currently occupy the third relegation spot. They had a shock 4-3 win over Runcorn Town and have three games in hand over Barnoldswick who will have to watch their step.

Town had Joel Melia back in the starting line-up after he had missed the last match with a groin strain, but were without Harry Thompson who was on holiday.

Runcorn were the first to show, Scott Reid having to make a smart save from Runcorn’s leading scorer Freddie Potter after seven minutes.

On the quarter hour mark Potter was put through on the Town goal. Reid advanced towards the edge of his penalty area but was thankful that Potter's attempted lob dropped into his arms.

What seemed to be a soft booking for Chris Ridehalgh after 24 minutes was to have serious implications later in the game.

Town’s first attempt at goal came on the half hour when Thomas Henderson forced Richard Mottram into a diving save after James Crorken had played the ball into his path. Scott Byrom and Melia also tested Mottram.

The best chance came in the 42nd minute when Melia weaved his way into the Runcorn penalty area and beat Matt Cross, before cutting the ball back into the box. It eluded Mottram and was just inches behind Town skipper James Crorken who was unable to apply the finishing touch.

Town goalkeeper Reid made fine saves from Mark Houghton either side of the break. Francis Smith also went close for the visitors before Town took the lead in the 62nd minute.

Byrom's corner was half cleared to the edge of the penalty area where Henderson fired a great shot past Mottram.

Runcorn then stepped up the pace and drew level two minutes later after Town failed to clear a corner. Henderson went down injured under a challenge from Potter when the ball was drilled back into in the area. Michael White had a header, then a shot charged down but the ball cannoned across the area to Matt Cross who hit a sweet left-foot shot into the far top corner.

Then came the big turning point after 69 minutes. Ridehalgh was booked for a second time for another foul on Potter, the referee first brandishing a yellow then a red card.

With Town down to ten men worse was to follow as the ball bounced off Matthew Atherton's shoulder from the resultant free kick and looped over Reid into the far corner.

The Town players and spectators were incensed soon after when the Runcorn captain Michael Ellison flattened Henderson. As he had been booked in the first half they expected him to be sent off but the referee, after consulting an assistant, having didn’t even speak to the player.

From then on there was only going to be one winner. Potter netted with a 77th minute header into the far top corner, and a great shot into the far corner three minutes later.

Francis Smith sealed Town’s fate in injury time. Numerous good saves from Reid kept the score down to five.