Smith’s double tonic boosts Barnoldswick's title challenge (From Craven Herald)

Smith’s double tonic boosts Barnoldswick's title challenge

9:53am Thursday 29th December 2011 in Football

Barnoldswick Town 3 Padiham 1

Two goals in two minutes from Robbie Smith helped Town to maintain their Premier Division championship challenge with a hard-earned Boxing Day win.

They bounced back from their disappointing 2-1 defeat at Glossop to remain in third place.

It means they will go into the New Year two points adrift of both Bootle and Ramsbottom United.

But they have the benefit of having played three games less than table-topping Bootle and one fewer than Ramsbottom.

Town, who are in only their third season in the North West Counties League, are certainly well placed to challenge for the title.

Their next game is a derby clash at Colne on Monday where they will be hoping to keep the pressure on the top two.

Town started against Padiham with the same starting line up that had lost at Glossop.

Shaun Clough went close after seven minutes with a 35-yard shot, but Town didn’t have to wait long for the first goal.

Padiham goalkeeper Joshua Boothman made a hash of a clearance and conceded a corner.

The ball was only half cleared and when Boothman parried Paul Fildes’ powerful shot, former Padiham striker Robbie Smith was on hand to tap the ball home.

Two minutes later and Town doubled their lead. Liam Blades crossed along the Padiham six-yard line, and Robbie Smith made no mistake from close range.

Blades was prominent in the Town attacks and he went close with a shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Padiham never really threatened until the 31st minute when former Silsden striker Sam Heap was put clear.

Thankfully for Town he blasted the ball well over the bar when he should really have hit the target.

Two minutes later and Padiham were thrown a lifeline back into the match.

Heap’s shot from 25 yards bounced just in front of Billy Carrington and somehow squir- med underneath the keeper’s body and into the net.

Carrington made amends for his error minutes later when he dived to his left to turn the ball round the post for a corner from a Lee Morris shot.

Town should have restored their two-goal advantage as the first half went into injury time.

Fildes slipped the ball through the Padiham defence for Robbie Smith to run onto, but he slid his shot inches wide of the post.

Town’s defence was kept on its toes in the opening minutes of the second half and Fildes was booked after 52 minutes following a collision with Boothman, before Town almost extended their lead.

Blades, raiding down the Padiham left, crossed deep to Fildes whose first-time shot across goal was only half cleared.

Connor Smith seized on the loose ball and drew a defender before slipping the ball wide again to Blades whose cross was met by the head of Aaron Hollindrake who saw Boothman tip the effort round the post.

Connor Smith was then denied a goalscoring opportunity by a last-ditch tackle after a flowing move.

Padiham were causing Town problems and in a bid to give them fresh impetus, Town introduced Spencer Jordan after 69 minutes to replace Connor Smith who had dislocated his thumb.

At this point it started to drizzle and the wind picked up markedly causing both goalkeepers a few anxious moments.

Town made a second substitution after 75 minutes with Liam replacing Hollindrake as Town strived to make the points safe.

Padiham missed a great chance after 76 minutes. A flowing move ended with Chris Ridehalgh’s cross flashing across the Town box with nobody able to apply the finishing touch.

At the other end, substitute Jordan latched onto a long clearance and set up Blades for a fierce shot that whistled over the bar.

Town made the game safe with four minutes left. A Fildes cross was bundled into the net by Spencer Jordan.

It was all Town now, Fildes had a shot blocked before setting up Robbie Smith for an effort that drifted just wide.

Town made their final substitution in the last minute when Lewis Jordan replaced Fildes.

Now Town will be heading into the New Year filled with optimism and looking to start on a winning note at Colne on Monday.