Runcorn Linnets 2 Barnoldswick Town 0

THERE was no dream start for Barnoldswick Town’s new manager Danny Craig, but he was encouraged by what he saw.

Fifth-placed Linnets may have taken the three points after scoring two first-half goals, but Town showed enough character and endeavour to suggest his team can start climbing the table.

Town set out with a plan to stop Linnets playing out from the back. Their aim was to force them to hit long balls into the frontmen, but they had barely had time to apply it effectively when Linnets took the lead.

Adam Wade got in behind the defence and rifled a powerful shot into the net.

“It was a good goal, I have no complaints about that,” said Craig. “Conceding an early goal wasn’t part of our planning.”

Mark Houghton increased the Linnets' lead in the 36th minute with a cheeky header from inside the six-yard box after lobbing keeper Jordan Gidley.

“Unfortunately, the second goal was avoidable,” said Craig. “It was a pity because it gave us a lot to do.”

Craig changed things around for the second half and tried to take the game to their fifth-placed opponents.

The home side found themselves coming under pressure and there was a glimmer of hope for Town when Linnets had Anthony Hickey sent off.

Town pressed forward in a bid to save the game. Chances were created and missed as Linnets kept a grip on the three points.

Although disappointed to lose, Craig felt he had learned a lot about this players. He said: “They showed character and responded well to going 1-0 down early on and I was pleased with the way they reacted after the sending off and attacked.

“We just couldn’t get the ball over the line. Perhaps if Linnets had only been 1-0 up they would have panicked and we could have got a point.”

Town will be looking to provide Craig with a first win on Saturday when they entertain AFC Liverpool at the Silentnight Stadium.

Full back Jake McEneaney has had a run out with the development side and is likely to be contention for a place on the bench.