Bootle 0 Barnoldswick Town 2

TOWN secured a welcome away win but the margin of victory should have been bigger.

They created a number of clear-cut chances which they did not capitalise on. Striker John Beckwith, who scored his side's second goal, was also guilty of missing on three occasions with only the keeper to beat.

Both sides struggled to come to terms with the blustery conditions in the early stages before Bootle had the first chance. James Crorken misjudged the flight of the ball and it fell to Tom Peterson whose shot was brilliantly saved by Jordan Gidley.

At the other end, Harry Thompson had a low shot kept out by Sean Lake when Arley Barnes' corner wasn't cleared.

Gidley was the busier of the two keepers and did well to push a shot away from the unmarked Peterson.

Town weathered a spell of heavy pressure before the break and that seemed to give them confidence for the second half.

The visitors went ahead after 51 minutes when Barnes struck a great shot all along the ground and into the far bottom corner of Lake’s net.

Town continued to press forward and should have doubled their lead after 66 minutes, Beckwith shooting wide with just Lake to beat.

A similar opportunity brought the same outcome with Beckwith slicing his shot wide but he made amends after 75 minutes when he turned home Mark Threlfall's low cross.

The striker's mixed afternoon continued when he squandered a third one on one with the keeper in the final minutes.