Barnoldswick Town 3 AFC Liverpool 2

A LAST-GASP winner gave Barnoldswick fans something to cheer last night, having earlier been stunned by news that defender Jonathan Hodgkinson had joined Bootle and striker Danny Boyle had signed for Padiham.

Both sides had led in a see-saw battle which saw Jake Lloyd snatch a 90th-minute winner to move Town away from the Hallmark Security League top-flight drop zone.

Town, who welcomed back Mark Threlfall on the bench, had the first stab at goal when Zack Dale saw his shot well saved by Dominic Garner. Liverpool responded, forcing Connor King to make a great save at the foot of his left-hand post.

Liverpool should have taken the lead after 24 minutes but skipper Joseph Whittingham scooped his shot over the bar from two yards.

Then came a period of Town pressure, as Lloyd saw a fierce shot parried, Dale missed from close range and Harry Thompson's shot was tipped over.

Dale was running amok and, with ten minutes to go to half-time, he went past three defenders and whipped in a fierce cross but Andy Hill was just unable to turn the ball in.

Right on half-time, King was brought into action at the other end to save a free-kick from Jack Fleming.

Once again Town started the second half conceding a goal in the first minute. Daniel Boden blasted a fierce shot inside the six-yard area across the goal and Shaun Airey, under pressure from Kevin Edgar, sliced the ball into his own net to give Liverpool the lead.

Town’s heads didn’t drop and on 59 minutes a great ball into the visitors' penalty area saw Airey latch onto it and crash an unstoppable shot past Garner.

Two minutes later Barlick went ahead. Hill played another great ball to Dale, who took the ball on to a similar position as Airey and he too cracked home a fierce shot to make it 2-1.

Town looked to be heading for their first win in weeks but a cross from the right found Edgar, who drove a shot past King to make it 2-2 with four minutes left.

With the 90 minutes up, Town had a last attack and Dale – who had tormented the Liverpool defence all game – crossed for Lloyd to turn home from two yards to clinch a deserved win.