AFC Liverpool 5 Barnoldswick Town 2

BARNOLDSWICK Town lost their opening game despite netting twice and going close on other occasions.

Harry Thompson made it 1-1 after 40 minutes, chipping keeper Josh O’Connell after a superb save from Mark Threlfall, and 4-2 after 55 minutes following a defensive lapse.

Threlfall also had a shot well saved by O’Connell in the 22nd minute and visiting skipper Arley Barnes hit the angle of post and bar with a thunderous shot from outside the area soon afterwards.

Joe Gaughan was a constant menace with some teasing crosses, and forced the home keeper into a reflex save at 4-1, while O’Connell made two more crucial blocks at 4-2.

Emini Adegbenro forced an early save out of Town’s Jordan Gidley which deflected onto an upright, but Matthew Williams opened the scoring on 25 minutes with a perfectly-placed free-kick, striker Jason Carey marking his league debut with a chip to restore the home side’s lead at 2-1.

Connor Belger hit the underside of the bar just before half-time, but it was 3-1 on 47 minutes when Carey met Williams’ corner with a glancing header at the near post.

On 49 minutes, it was 4-1 when an unmarked Belger netted, and Adegbenro sealed the game for the Reds on 86 minutes.

Town visit AFC Darwen on Wednesday, while on Saturday they travel to Irlam.