BARNOLDSWICK Town were knocked out of the Macron Cup after a 3-1 defeat at Northwich Victoria on Saturday.

There were chances for both sides early on, but it was the home side who broke the deadlock when Saul Henderson put Victoria 1-0 in the 17th minute.

Barlick keeper made a good save at the near post to deny Victoria in the 22nd minute and two minutes later a defensive header kept the hosts from going 2-0 up.

Town had a good period of play which culminated in the awarding of a free-kick in the 33rd minute, but Zack Dale's shot went just wide.

However, a mistake from the keeper saw Victoria extend their lead to 2-0 when Jamie Reed scored on 34 minutes.

Joe Noblet had a chance four minutes later, but his shot went straight at the keeper, and the score at half-time was 2-0 to the hosts.

Northwich Victoria then deservedly extended their lead to 3-0 when Henderson added his second in the 85th minute.

Barlick made a good start to the second half, but could not capitalise.

They were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position in the 70th minute, but could not score.

Northwich Victoria then deservedly increased their lead to 3-0 in the 85th minute when Henderson got his second goal.

Barlick did manage to pull one goal back when good work by Dale set up Ric Seear, who headed in on 89 minutes.

Barnoldswick Town also lost 3-1 at Bootle in a North West Counties League Premier Division game last Tuesday.

In the game, Town also scored late on when Reece Barrett nodded in an excellent header in the 85th minute.

Town travel to Irlam on Tuesday before hosting Winsford United on Saturday.

* Barnoldswick Town (EL) won 4-2 against Settle United, one of the favourites to win this year’s Craven FA Cup.

The game, which was held at Silentnight Stadium, started at a frantic pace as Settle were awarded a penalty after just three minutes.

Skipper Thomas Strickland duly converted it to give their side an early 1-0 lead.

The home side struck back almost immediately on six minutes when Jonny Davies' perfect pass found Nathan Taylforth, who finished expertly.

The early drama was still not complete and Settle regained the lead on nine minutes, Strickland again scoring from close past Adam Wormwell in goal.

The game settled down and Town did not threaten again until 28 minutes when good work by Oliver Venn created an opening for man-of-the-match Joe Brown, who rolled the ball in to the net to bring his team back on level terms again, and the scoreline remained 2-2 going into half-time.

The visitors were marginally the better side for the first 15 minutes of the second half and they spurned a golden opportunity to take the lead on 62 minutes when an over-eager Settle forward lifted the ball over the net with the goal beckoning.

Town found another gear and the midfield trinity of Davies, Venn and Brown took the game by the scruff of the neck, leading to almost total domination of the final 30 minutes.

Venn made a surging run in to the penalty area on 70 minutes before slipping the ball to Daniel Paton who made no mistake, putting Town in to the lead for the first time in the game.

Brilliant work on 75 minutes by the non-stop Paton down the left wing opened up the visitors and his vicious curling cross in to the danger area saw Davies and Brown competing to be first to apply the final touch with lung bursting 40-yard charges.

Brown got there first and smashed the ball over the line to complete the scoring and put the match beyond the visitors' reach.