Prairie United 1

Barnoldswick Town (EL) 6

BARNOLDSWICK Town visited Prairie United and played on their all-weather pitch.

The home side took an early lead after six minutes as Town struggled to get their usual slick passing game started.

But the match official chose not to award a penalty for the visitors after 30 minutes, when Teal Amos was clearly held by a home defender in the penalty area.

Amos had his revenge almost immediately when he created an opportunity for Bailey Coates who equalised after 32 minutes.

Jordan Slade continued his recent excellent form and put Town into the lead on 33 minutes.

The highlight of the game was a mazy run just before half time by Bobby Bell, who somehow bamboozled five Prairie players before smashing the ball against the bar from an outrageous distance.

Town went in at the break with a 2-1 lead and with the balance of the game starting to turn in their favour.

The second half was never as fiercely contested as the first had been and a goal after 49 minutes by Amos gave Town a commanding 3-1 lead.

Callum Davies, playing in a more attacking position than normal, forced the home keeper into a fine save on 60 minutes, but Coates was on to the rebound in a flash and the young striker smashed the ball effortlessly into the opponents' net for the Barlickers' fourth goal.

Charlie Smith was introduced as a substitute and looked comfortable at this level of football immediately. He reinforced the point with a diving header in the 78th minute to make it 5-1.

A superb assist by Davies five minutes from full time presented Amos with the chance to score his second and Town’s sixth goal.

As is becoming expected now, he made no mistake beating the Prairie goalkeeper with apparent ease.

A good solid performance by everyone involved and another three points gained as Town climb steadily up the East Lancashire League Division One.

Town’s next game is away to Oswaldtwistle St Mary’s on Saturday, November 10 (kick-off 2pm).