Barnoldswick held to draw in opening game (From Craven Herald)

Barnoldswick held to draw in opening game

11:46am Thursday 9th August 2012 in Sport

Runcorn Linnets 1 Barnoldswick Town 1

Town kicked off their new Premier Division programme with a hard-earned draw at the Millbank Stadium on Saturday.

Aaron Hollindrake (holiday), Spencer Jordan, Robbie Smith, Shaun Clough (injured), Shaun Airey and Ashley Alderson (suspended) were all unavailable for the opening encounter.

Town started well and took the lead after five minutes when Mark Threlfall crossed to Liam Garbutt who easily beat goalie Tom Brockhurst.

The play ebbed and flowed mostly in midfield until the 20th minute when the Linnets were awarded a corner on the Town left.

It was floated towards the far post and headed back across goal where the unmarked Paul Bowes nodded firmly past Marko Marosi.

Marosi came to the Town’s rescue a minute later with a fantastic double save.

He also did well to tip a drive by Lewis Callaghan round the post.

Town seemed to be struggling to put any pressure on the Linnets defence, until a Liam Blades cross found Threlfall but his looping header bounced off the top of the crossbar.

Only a magnificent block from Bill Williams prevented a Runcorn goal four minutes after half-time.

The Linnets thought they had gone ahead after 58 minutes but their joy was short lived as the goal was disallowed for a foul on Town keeper Marosi.

Threlfall coming in at the back post somehow managed to lift the ball over the bar from six yards out with only Brockhurst to beat in the 78th minute.

There were few incidents after that apart from Carl Ellerton making a great tackle on Matthew Atherton to stop an almost certain goal.

Town: Marosi, Blades, Ellerton, L Jordan, Priestley, Williams, Gorman (Morton 63), Chapman (Airdrie 86), Garbutt, Threlfall, Thompson. Subs: Morton, Airdrie, Overson, King, Ridehalgh.