Barnoldswick Town 2 Winsford United 1

Top scorer Daniel Boyle scored twice as Town picked up three welcome Premier Division points.

With Jake McEneaney and Aaron Hollindrake still injured joint-manager Kevin Richardson had to come into the side after the midweek departure of Billy Priestley to Ramsbottom United.

At least the substitutes bench looked healthier than in recent weeks, with Joel Melia, Kieran Lee, Anthony Pollard and Harry Thomp- son being on it.

Town started the match well and Neil Stansfield wasted a good chance from Mark Threlfall’s cross in the second minute.

Town won a stream of corners and from one of them Stansfield hit the far post with a shot.

Daniel Boyle forced a save low down at the foot of a post by Winsford keeper Andrew Jones.

Winsford hadn’t been in the game up to this point but Bill Williams had to make a great tackle inside the Town six- yard area after Connor Mur- phy had broken clear of the Town defence.

With 21 minutes gone Lee Constantine was allowed to run unchecked at the Town defence, but fortunately he dragged his shot wide of Jake Chadwick’s right-hand post.

Town took the lead after 23 minutes when a corner caused problems for the defence.

Threlfall fluffed his shot but the ball fell into the path of Paul Cruz.

He fired against the bar but the rebound fell invitingly and Town’s top scorer Boyle was the quickest to react to ram the ball home.

Town’s play became a little scrappy as Winsford pressed for an equaliser.

Benjamin McNamara and Constantine both went close.

Winsford had finished the half slightly on top and the break was timely for Town.

The home side had a good chance to increase their lead two minutes into the second half.

Boyle broke clear of the defence but dragged his shot across the face of goal.

Town did finally get that elusive second goal. Once again a corner wasn’t cleared with any conviction.

The ball bounced around the six-yard box until Boyle pounced again to net his second goal.

With Town on top and looking to grab a third goal to seal all three points Wins-ford were thrown a lifeline.

Cruz was adjudged to have held a Winsford player down in the penalty area and Andrew Hurst stepped up to beat Chadwick.

With ten minutes left Boyle went clear again looking for his hat-trick.

As Jones advanced he struck a decent shot over him from the corner of the penalty area, but it hit the underside of the bar and bounced clear.

In their next attack Samuel Howell took a shot at goal from just outside the penalty area, Jones dived to save but the ball drifted just the wrong side of the post.

The last action of the match saw Chadwick having to make a good save as Harry Noon closed in looking for the equaliser for Winsford.