Groundstaff pitch in as Town keep title challenge on course (From Craven Herald)

Groundstaff pitch in as Town keep title challenge on course

9:07am Thursday 12th January 2012 in Sport

Barnoldswick Town 2 Congleton Town 0

Barnoldswick capitalised on the tireless work of their groundstaff as they secured their first win of the New Year on Saturday.

Second-half goals from Liam Garbutt and Spencer Jordan saw them retain their grip on third place in the title race.

But the real credit should rest with Ces Naylor and Kevin Pickles plus their band of helpers who defied the odds to get the Victory Park pitch fit for play after a week of heavy rain.

Town had their new signing from Padiham Chris Ridealgh on the substitutes’ bench on a day when only Lewis Jordan and Bill Williams were missing.

There was an eventful start to the match which saw the unmarked Robbie Smith shoot wide with the goal at his mercy.

It wasn’t all one-way traffic though. Congleton went straight down the other end and won a free kick just outside the penalty area.

Matthew Landregan swung the ball into the near post where goalkeeper Billy Carrington, under pressure from two forwards, was unable to gather the ball cleanly and Jack Overson had to clear.

Carrington saved a header from Jamie Turner before Liam Garbutt was put through after 20 minutes.

The striker saw his low shot from the edge of the penalty area tipped an inch wide of the far post by the diving Ashley Woodhouse.

Town began to apply a bit of pressure and Paul Fildes blazed a chance over the bar when Liam Blades pulled the ball back across the penalty area.

Both sides were playing well in the conditions, but chances were few and far between.

Turner blasted a shot wide from the edge of the Town penalty area, and Ashley Alderson in trying to clear a dangerous cross headed against his own post after 25 minutes.

The second half started with Town asserting themselves with Spencer Jordan and Fildes shooting just wide of the target.

They eventually took the lead after 66 minutes when Smith played the ball across field to Blades who lobbed the ball into the Congleton penalty area where Jordan tried a spectacular overhead kick.

The ball hit Ian Willis on the back and looped into the air. Seeing his chance, Garbutt volleyed the ball past Woodhouse to give Town the lead.

Garbutt was then immediately replaced by Aaron Hollindrake.

After 73 minutes a Blades cross was headed against the foot of the post by Hollindrake who was causing the Congleton defence problems with his mazy runs.

The points were secured with a second goal after 78 minutes. A long ball by Blades saw Hollin- drake stride past a defender before cutting into the penalty and pulling the ball back to Jordan who crashed an unstoppable shot past Woodhouse.

Town sent on Ridehalgh for his debut after 79 minutes in place of Fildes and he was soon in the thick of the action.

He picked the ball up from Alderson and raced down the Congleton right before cutting into the penalty area past Chris Middleton.

Ridealgh slid the ball across goal past Woodhouse, but neither Smith nor Airdrie could tap in at the far post.

Town are in action at St Helens Town on Saturday. Silsden, whose home game with Glossop was called off last Saturday, are away to AFC Liverpool.