Barnoldswick Town 5 Stockport Sports 0

TOWN notched their first Premier Division win in eight matches as they brushed aside fellow strugglers Stockport Sports at the Silentnight Stadium on Saturday.

Their last league victory had been at Bacup and Rossendale on September 24 so their success was a welcome relief after taking just one point from the previous 24.

New goalkeeper Alex Palffy made his debut in place of the unavailable Chris Taylor against a Stockport side that has gone through a period of recent upheaval and had its preparations disrupted by an accident on the motorway. It meant their players arrived in dribs and drabs.

An early Barnoldswick attack ended with Joel Melia tried to chip Stockport goalkeeper Matt Green but his effort drifted wide.

Paul Walker was unable to apply the finishing touch to Mark Threlfall's cross then Scott Byrom shot wide after good work from Melia.

Palffy was called into action for the first time after 22 minutes when he dived to tip Ryan Humphreys' fierce shot round the post .

Town deservedly went ahead two minutes later when Melia weaved his way into the Stockport penalty area and struck a shot against the foot of Green’s left-hand post. The ball rebounded back to Melia and he made no mistake from five yards out.

Melia, Byrom and Threlfall all went close as Town stepped up the pressure on the Stockport goal.

Town must have wondered how they were only one up at half-time. There was also the fear among their followers that they would rue the missed chances.

The second half started in a similar fashion with Melia squandering a good chance and Threlfall forcing a good save from the keeper.

Palffy had to come out of his penalty area to beat Dimitri Aembi to a trough ball from a rare Stockport attack.

It was a warning sign for Town and after Melia had missed another chance, Aembi hooked the ball just over the bar.

Chances were being created by Town every couple of minutes. Melia shot wide from a fine Harry Thompson pass before hitting the bar after being set up by the same player.

Thompson again placing a great pass in to Melia who once again couldn’t find the target with his final shot. Again after 71 minutes the same combination liked up this time Melia hitting Green’s crossbar. A minute later Threlfall was through but blazed the chance well over the bar.

The last seven minutes of the match saw a bombardment on the Stockport goal. Thompson headed against a post and Beckwith shot wide off the rebound.

Full back Jake McEneaney netted the third goal with a blistering shot from an acute angle after more good work from Thompson in the 87th minute.

A minute later Beckwith rounded off the scoring when he was in the right place to apply the finishing touch after Byrom had fired a shot against the bar.

It rounded off a comprehensive Town win which should give them heart ahead of Saturday's visit to fourth-placed Ashton Athletic.