Alsager Town 1 Barnoldswick Town 2

THERE’S something about Alsager Town that seems to bring the best out of Premier Division strugglers Barnoldswick Town.

Stewart Airdrie’s men hadn’t won a game since their 2-1 home win over the Bullets in November, but they ended their long wait by shooting down the Bullets at Wood Park on Saturday.

Jack Tinning, Town’s recent signing from FC United of Manchester, made his debut in a match that got the go ahead after a 10.30am inspection.

Alsager have been in good form recently so it promised to be a tricky test for a Barnoldswick Town side that had been beaten 6-1 at home by Runcorn Town in their previous game.

The early play was evenly contested with neither side able to take a grip on the game. Shots on goal either flew high or wide or were routinely fielded by either goalkeeper.

Towards the latter stages of the first half, the Bullets started to up the tempo and Dave Harry went close before their top scorer Michael Blundell scored his 18th goal of the season six minutes before the break. He ran into the area before chipping the ball over the advancing Scott Reid.

Town started the second half brightly and winger Joel Melia was having an increasing influence on the match.

The visitors deservedly equalised on the hour mark when right back Kieron Lee scored with a shot from just outside the area which was only partially saved by Chris Fletcher and the ball somehow spun into the net.

The Bullets were clearly rattled and began a bombardment on the visitors’ goal. Shane Reaney’s shot from the edge of the six-yard box and Calvin Houghton’s header from a Blundell corner were both cleared off the line but somehow Town survived and regained their composure.

As the home team started to run out of ideas, Town became more of a threat and took the lead in the 82nd minute when Melia’s run and pass gave John Beckwith the simple chance of tapping the ball into the net.

From that point, they comfortably held onto their lead and secured victory, as the home side lost their way and ran out of ideas.

Town now have to build on the win.