BARNOLDSWICK TOWN: Zack Dale's double is a winner

BARNOLDSWICK Town ran out comfortable winners in the Premier Division encounter at the Silentnight Stadium on Saturday.

Constant drizzle and poor visibility didn't make for pleasant conditions for either players or spectators.

The home side were without injured midfieldman Andrew Hill, but had the better of a close-fought first half.

Defences were on top for much of the time, but Irlam's Lee White was the busiest of the two keepers as he tipped away shots from Zack Dale and Joel Melia.

The nearest Town came to scoring was from a corner. The ball was played across the six-yard box to Mark Threlfall whose powerful shot was saved by the legs of White and cleared.

Irlam's best effort saw Isaac Illidge swivel on the edge of the Town penalty area and shoot against the crossbar with keeper Connor King beaten.

Right on half-time Town took the lead. Another shot from Dale was palmed upwards by White and this time it dropped into the net.

The second half followed a similar pattern until the 68th minute. A cross from the Town right found Threlfall just past the far post. He headed back across goal and defender Joel Amado turned the ball into his own goal under pressure.

A minute later the points were wrapped up. Dale was put through and he made no mistake. He easily slipped the ball past White for his second goal of the game.