BARNOLDSWICK Town were brought back down to earth last night after suffering a 3-0 home defeat to 1874 Northwich in the North West Counties League Premier Division.

Town had won their opening league game 3-2 against Squires Gate on Saturday, but Northwich were a tougher prospect altogether, having been eight points clear at the summit when last season was declared null and void.

Barnoldswick started last night's game brightly, going close through Brad Knox and Gareth Hill, with Hill in particular left feeling as if he should have done better.

Instead, it was the visitors who went 1-0 up after 12 minutes through Taylor Kennerley.

After half an hour, Northwich doubled their lead. Barlick failed to properly deal with a corner and Jake Parker pounced to make it 2-0.

In the second half, Knox and Andrew Hill missed half-chances for Barnoldswick, but Northwich were largely in control, and they added a third through Parker.

That defeat saw Town drop from third to eighth in the table. Their next game is due to be at Winsford United on Saturday.

But there is some doubt as to whether league fixtures will continue in the North West Counties League.

According to non-league journalist and commentator Ollie Bayliss, the league is asking clubs if they’d support suspending the season.

Any decision on this would of course affect Barnoldswick, as well as First Division North side Steeton.

He said clubs are being asked to vote on three options following the local rise in Covid-19:

  • Suspend the season until end of October
  • Suspend games for clubs in ‘tier 3’ lockdowns (currently that is those in the City of Liverpool Region)
  • Continue the season