Congleton Town 3 Barnoldswick Town 1

BARNOLDSWICK Town's player-manager Stewart Airdrie is becoming increasingly familiar with the role of substitute goalkeeper.

He had to pull the gloves on for the second time in recent weeks when Chris Taylor was sent off just before half-time for handling outside the penalty area.

After all their goalkeeping problems this season a suspension for Taylor is most unwelcome.

The match was well balanced at 1-1 when Taylor saw red. Town were forced to sacrifice Kieran Lee to bring Airdrie on and the handicap of playing with ten men told in the second half.

The end result capped a frustrating afternoon for Town. Their pre-match preparations had been thrown into chaos when an accident delayed their arrival at the ground.

They were also without the services of their best player this season, Joel Melia, who has been their main attacking threat.

It was no surprise that Congleton were the first to show. Louis James shot over the bar in the opening minute after receiving a pass from Liam Crellin-Myers.

Congleton's Andy Alston shot high over the bar when a chance presented itself from the resulting corner.

Once Barnoldswick settled into the game they began to pose problems for the home defence.

James Crorken whistled a volley just wide from outside the box following a corner.

Next a short free-kick routine led to Harry Thompson smashing the underside of the bar before Mark Threlfall fired over in front of an open goal.

Barnoldswick's pressure was rewarded when they took the lead after 16 minutes as a long ball over the defence found Threlfall.

With Congleton looking for an offside decision, the striker slipped the ball past Craig Ellison. The Bears went in search of an equaliser and PJ Hudson earned a free-kick just outside the box following a powerful burst down the centre.

He got up and put the free-kick through the wall and into the bottom corner after 23 minutes played.

Barnoldswick were still threatening as Thompson put John Beckwith through but his shot was scuffed and Ellison saved with ease.

The same player then had another chance as he turned inside Louis James but once again could only shoot at Ellison.

Jake McEneaney was booked when he brought down Scott Barlow to concede a free kick which Crellin-Myers fired straight at Taylor.

Minutes later, Taylor was given his marching orders and Town were up against it.

Barnoldswick worked hard in the second half in a bid to keep the home side at arm's length.

Barlow ran onto a ball over the top but slipped on the edge of the box. before Crellin-Myers fired Congleton into the lead with the help of a deflection, in the 48th minute.

It was largely one-way traffic and Hudson's header from Haynes' corner was blocked on the line and cleared.

Hudson then pulled the ball back from the byline after beating his man but Scott Sephton couldn't keep his effort down.

Hudson pulled another cross back from the byline that Haynes headed back across goal but Barlow found his shot closed down.

The decisive third goal came when substitute Macauley Booth led a counter attack and slipped the ball through for the overlapping Hudson.

The winger simply rolled the ball across the box where Haynes was on hand to tap in.

It was the final blow for battling Barnoldswick.