Barnoldswick face tough test as North End come to Town (From Craven Herald)

Barnoldswick face tough test as North End come to Town

10:27am Thursday 2nd February 2012 in Sport

Winsford United 1 Barnoldswick Town 2

Barnoldswick Town have the chance to avenge one of their four Premier Division defeats of the season when they entertain Glossop North End on Saturday.

The Victory Park outfit lost 2-1 when the sides met earlier in the campaign and they will want to put one over the Derbyshire club who are currently in fourth place.

Glossop are six points adrift of Town who only trail second-placed Bootle on goal difference after their win at Winsford and have four games in hand.

Ramsbottom are the new leaders but they are just two points ahead of Town who have played two games less.

It is all building up for an intriguing race to the finish in the battle for the league title.

Town had to show their character again at Winsford where instead of a frostbound pitch they were confronted by a boggy surface.

Both sides carved out early chances before Barnoldswick went ahead after 12 minutes.

Alderson stepped up to take the spot kick and sent the keeper the wrong way.

Town were creating the better chances. Spencer Jordan had the ball taken from his feet by a desperate dive from Jones as he tried to go round him.

And then just after the half hour mark Town were denied a goal for offside.

Garbutt was put through again and drew the keeper before slipping the ball past him into the path of Jordan who duly scored.

Town felt that Jordan had run from behind Garbutt but the officials disagreed.

Robbie Smith shot inches wide from outside the penalty area. and Jordan had a goal-bound shot cleared from close to the Winsford goal line.

Town exerted pressure at the start of the second half as they sought the second goal that they hoped would secure the three points.

It came after 54 minutes when Liam Blades’ clearance fell to Aaron Hollindrake who picked the ball up halfway inside the Winsford half.

He raced forward to the edge of the penalty area before unleashing a thunderbolt shot that Jones couldn’t have seen.

Town made a double substitution after 64 minutes with Spencer Jordan and Alderson making way for Connor Smith and Chris Ridehalgh. A further substitution after 73 minutes saw Paul Fildes take over from Garbutt.

Three minutes later Winsford substitute Jamie Henders saw a cross come shot from the corner of the Town penalty area hit the Town crossbar.

This seemed to put more urgency into the Winsford attack as they threatened the Town goal.

They scored with 11 minutes left when Richard Bailey hammered the ball home from eight yards out, giving Carrington no chance.

Two minutes later Russell Clarke was booked for bringing a Winsford forward down as it looked like he might break clear. Then with three minutes left Hurst headed wide of the Town near post from two yards out after a free kick had been awarded just outside the penalty area.

At the other end Fildes had a fierce shot from outside the penalty area tipped over the bar by Jones.

It was a frantic end to a game that Town deserved to win.

Silsden were thwarted by the weather again. Their home match with Stone Dominoes was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

This Saturday they are at home again against AFC LIverpool and will be hoping for better luck this time.