Barnoldswick Town 4-2 St Helens Town (From St Helens Star)

Barnoldswick Town 4-2 St Helens Town

1:06pm Sunday 19th August 2012 in Sport

St Helens Town fell to their first league defeat of the season in a game which saw them fail to get started until the final 15 minutes.

Town were on the back foot for most of the half and the opening goal game came on 12 mins when Threlfall combined well with Jordan and he neatly chipped the on-coming ‘keeper Newbrook. It should have been 2-0 moments later but Newbrook did well to block Threlfall’s shot. A third chance inside 17 mins chance went begging when Aidrie found himself with only Newbrook to beat but his attempted lob went narrowly wide.

Town looked to have levelled the scores on 24 mins when Rimmer’s break to the dead-ball line and cross found Edwards who was on hand to squeeze the ball past Marosi. Town’s celebrations were swiftly halted when the referee spotted the assistant’s flag. Town’s Edwards had a thunderous shot from the edge of the box blocked after excellent work from Craig Fitzjohn and Carl Osman. The first half ended with Barnoldswick wasting another gilt edge chance when Airdrie once again failed when one-on-one with the Saints’ ‘keeper.

The first chance of the second period fell to Edwards who forced Marosi into a fine a save from an angled drive. Barlick extended their lead on 59 minutes when substitute Hollindrake picked up on another loose pass out of the Town defence and smashed home a powerful shot from the edge of the area. On 67 minutes Town almost reduced the arrears when Hatton’s cross from the left was headed clear but only as far as Edwards whose effort forced a save low down from Marosi. Barnoldswick looked to have secured the spoils when Jordan picked up on another loose pass before finding an unmarked Hollindrake whose first time strike gave Newbrook no chance.

On 78 minutes Mero Waugh caught the home defence asleep with a quickly taken free kick from the edge of the penalty box and 2 minutes later substitute Alex Dunne crash home a second following a great cross from Rimmer. With time running out Town were denied a penalty when the referee deemed a clear hand ball inside the box as unintentional. Town’s final chance fell to Ste Edwards when he found himself bearing down on goal but a superb last gasp challenge denied the opportunity. Ash Anderson broke clear in stoppage time and he squared the ball for Jordan to tap home for his second of the game and Barlick’s fourth.