Injury crisis is hurting Barnoldswick (From Craven Herald)

Injury crisis is hurting Barnoldswick

8:52am Thursday 20th September 2012 in Sport

Barnoldswick Town 2 Stone Dominoes 2

Injury-ravaged Barnoldswick Town were without 13 players and had to come from 2-0 down against bottom team Stone to snatch a point on Saturday.

Town had Lewis Jordan and Ashley Alderson away on holiday, whilst fellow midfielders Neil Chapman (groin), Chris Ridehalgh (hand), Robbie Smith (knee) and Ben Gorman (stomach strain) were all injured while Daniel Caton announced his retirement.

Spencer Jordan (back) and Harry Thompson (hamstring) could only make the bench leaving Town with nine midfielders unavailable to start the game.

Strikers Mark Threlfall (hamstring) and Aaron Hollindrake (suspension) were also missing along with defenders Shaun Airey (flu) and Shaun Clough (knee) leaving manager Ben Hall struggling to field a side.

And he admitted afterwards that things could have been even worse. “What a horrendous week we have just had,” he said. “In addition to the players who were out, others played who shouldn’t have.

“Stewart Airdrie and Liam Garbutt were both not fit and Liam Blades played with a chipped bone in his foot.

“Spencer Jordan only came to watch but luckily we put him down on the bench and was in no fit state to play but he was brilliant when he came on.

“It just can’t go on though. We need these lads fit because we are up there in the league with one defeat in 11 but God knows how to be honest. I’m praying we get a few back for Saturday at Ashton.”

Stone must have been dreaming of a rare away win until Carl Ellerton pulled a goal back in the second half with a superb strike from fully 25 yards out.

Airdrie then equalised with a simple volley from five yards out.

Silsden AFC 1 Barnoldswick Town 1

Following the defeat at Blackpool, Silsden manager Chris Reape reshuffled his pack.

Striker Kev Ryan returned with Elliott Holmes dropping to the bench while the experienced Peter Hanson and Steven Throupe were drafted in.

The fircely-contested derby against second-placed Barlick proved a busy night for Silsden’s new physio Clare Smith. There was even a nasty injury to Scott Hanson in the warm up.

Barlick, went ahead after 71 minutes with Billy Priestley’s run and free header from a corner found the net.

With just two minutes left, Barlick gave away a sloppy free-kick just inside the Silsden half. Dann Husband’s towering header led to substitute Joshua McNulty, becoming Silsden’s youngest ever scorer at 17, when he netted the equaliser.