Abbey Hey 2 Barnoldswick Town 1

TOWN dropped into the Premier Division relegation zone after being defeated by fellow strugglers Abbey Hey on Saturday.

Onve again Town were missing players from the starting squad for this important bottom of the table clash.

Shaun Airey, Aaron Hollindrake, Jake McEneaney, Neil Stansfield and Carl Ellerton were all missing through holidays and injuries but Anthony Pollard was in the starting line-up for the first time this season after a hamstring problem.

The match started brightly for Town, Joel Melia bursting clear in the second minute, as he approached the penalty area the ball seemed to bobble up slowing him down, this gave the Abbey Hey defence time to recover.

Town were looking lively and took the lead after five minutes. Harry Thompson latched onto a through ball and curled a great shot past keeper Jonathan McIlwaine.

It took Abbet Hey just two minutes to equalise. A poorly directed header from player manager Stewart Airdrie was intercepted by Louis Callaghan on the edge of the Town penalty area. He quickly saw Town keeper Chris Taylor off his line and lobbed him to equalise.

Airdrie bursting through on a strong run and brought a good save from McIlwaine with a shot from the edge of the penalty area.

At the other end Taylor had to make two saves in quick succession to stop shots from Brandon Zibaka and Liam Murray.

Abbey Hey were beginning to exert pressure on the Town defence who were giving the ball away far too easily.

It was no surprise when the home team took the lead after 34 minutes. A poor clearance fell to the feet of Sam Freakes who drilled a low shot past Taylor at the near post.

They nearly increased their lead a minute later, Freakes crossing into the Town penalty area where Jonathon Hardy headed wide.

Town nearly equalised right on the stroke of half-time when Thompson and Melia combined well but Melia screwed his shot wide of McIlwaine’s goal.

The secnd half was really all Abbey Hey as their back four easily held the Town attack. Martin Broderick replaced Anthony Pollard, Mark Threlfall took over from Chris Simpson (74), and John Beckwith was sent on for Scott Byrom as Town tried to get back on level terms.

As Town pressed forward for an equaliser it looked more likely that the home team would nick another goal.

With four minutes left, Melia cracked a shot just wide of McIlwaine’s goal. A minute later Town got a throw-in on the Abbey Hey left, Paul Walker took the throw which was headed on towards the back post. It was unsure who managed to get their head to the ball but in any event it hit the bar and went over.

In the dying minute Murray brought a brilliant save from Taylor