Abbey Hey 0 Barnoldswick Town 2

TWO goals in nine second-half minutes enabled Barnoldswick Town to secure a North West Counties League Premier Division away win on Saturday.

While there may have been a touch of good fortunes about the opener on the hour there was no doubting the emphatic nature of the second by Mark Threlfall which wrapped up the points.

Both sides had chances to break the deadlock before Town went ahead when Arley Barnes' corner was headed into his own goal by Darren Talbot.

They capitalised on their good fortune when a free kick from Barnes was headed powerfully past keeper Jon McIlwaine from eight yards.

Town could easily have extended their lead in the closing stages as defender Elliot Firth rose to meet a corner and his saw his powerful effort headed onto the bar by Mark Haslam and grabbed by a relieved McIlwaine.

John Beckwith – who had come into the side for Matthew Simpson – and substitute Michael Hodgson both went close in the closing minutes while Abbey Hey's Kane Hickman rattled the bar with a shot from outside the penalty area.

Town's second-half dominance was a contrast to the start of the game which saw the home side having the better of the exchanges.

There was an early let off when Ashford Blake headed a cross back across Jordan Gidley's goal with nobody able to apply the finishing touch.

Sam Hird flashed a 25-yard effort just wide before the visitors finally settled down and came into the game.

Town's first goal attempt came after 17 minutes when Gidley's free kick was headed down by Threlfall to Beckwith who forced McIlwaine into a diving save.

A good move down the left saw Michael Woodvine send Beckwith away, his cross into the middle was headed by Threlfall but it lacked direction and was cleared.

At the other end, slack defending by Town let in Jon Hardy who shot just wide before Nico Collins tested Gidley from the edge of the penalty area.

Town came more into the game as the first half neared its end. Threlfall was just about to pull the trigger when Talbot made a great tackle to dispossess him, while Beckwith had his shot saved by McIlwaine's legs after being put clear.

The second half proved to be a different story as Town secured a win that will be boost morale ahead of a busy Easter schedul.e