Runcorn Town 3 Barnoldswick Town 2

DESPITE the heavy rain of the previous week, Barnoldswick Town arrived at Runcorn to find the pitch in a good state although the players did have to contend with a gale-force wind.

The visitors were the first to show with Matthew Simpson sliding a pass to Joseph Gaughan whose shot was parried by Daniel Lever and cleared to safety.

Runcorn had the advantage of the wind in the first half and it was no surprise that the Town defence would come under intense pressure.

They forced a series of early corners before James McShane forced Jordan Gidley into making a good save.

Runcorn took the lead in the tenth minute. Barnoldswick lost possession in midfield and were made to pay as a great pass forward put Runcorn’s ace goalscorer and captain Paul Shanley clear to lift the ball over the advancing Jordan Gidley.

Runcorn should have increased their soon after, but Warren Bellow headed Sean Kelly's cross wide from close range.

It wasn't all one-way traffic. Simpson headed just over the bar after good work from full backs Anthony Pollard and Jake McEneaney.

Shanley fired a 30-yard free kick just wide and Mark Keddie had a fierce shot tipped over the bar by Gidley.

Barnoldswick had a luck let off after 30 minutes. Gidley collided with Gareth Grant as both players challenged for possession. With both men on the ground, the ball fell to Shanley who curled a shot towards the far top corner, but Scott Moore managed to clear off the line.

The visitors responded with Simpson heading a Gaughan free kick across goal to James Crorken who failed to make contact with an overhead kick.

There was a dramatic finale to the first half. Runcorn extended their lead in the 45th minute when Barnoldswick were caught out by a quick free kick and Bellew fired the ball past Gidley.

The response from the visitors was immediate. Gaughan's shot was handled by Chris Lawton and the referee awarded a penalty. Top scorer Gaughan made no mistake from the spot.

The visitors were on level terms five minutes after the break. John Beckwith, way out on the right, blasted a shot that curled across the Runcorn penalty area and nestled in the bottom corner of Lever’s net.

Town were getting increasingly sloppy in midfield. Only the tireless Arley Barnes escaped this criticism.

McShane headed wide from Bellew's cross before Runcorn regained the lead in the 57th minute when Shanley slotted home a penalty after one of his colleagues had been brought down.

Barnoldswick seemed to lose their way and were not putting too much pressure on the Runcorn defence. In fact, Runcorn kicking into the strong wind, looked the more likely to score as they played the ball quickly to feet going forward.

Town won a couple of late corners and Gaughan hitting the base of the near post from one of them.

In the final minute, Barnes crossed to the far post, where substitute Mark Threlfall headed back to Simpson who had his close range shot kicked off the line.