Match Report | Les Taylor

For the first time this season, Garstang were able to field an unchanged starting eleven and they didn't let the manager down, securing a second win over the Easter Holiday period.

Garstang were in front as soon as the third minute when Fawcett back headed a Richard Wilson free kick over a rather static keepers hands. It was nearly two on 16 minutes when Walker did well to tip a Bamba free kick over the bar but, it wasn't long before Garstang did make it two, Richard Wilson providing the perfect pass inside the full back for Horton to run on to and score.

Barnoldswick's Reeves was booked for dissent in a rare moment of passion shown by the visitors, who had not troubled the home defence. A Bamba corner on 37 minutes almost resulted in goal number three, but Horton didn't get the required touch and the ball flew out of play.

It could be described as a case of brotherly love when, after 49 minutes, Richard Wilson was to be the architect of goal number three, dinking another free kick on to the head of brother Geoff and who beat keeper Walker to the ball, 3-0. Soon after Geoff had a chance to make it four from a long Brindle clearance, but he lofted his shot over the bar.

Barnoldswick replaced Craig with Kellon which may have sparked a brief revival. Bradshaw had a long range effort that didn't trouble Brindle and then, on 75 minutes, Clark did pull one back before Cheetham, who had just taken a booking, brought a great save out of Brindle. But that was it for the visitors, when Garstang wrapped things up in the 84th minute. It was another free kick from that man again, Richard Wilson, that was spooned up into the air by a defender, the the ball dropped in front of the goal line for Horton to apply the final touch.

This was another victory built on a good work ethic and a solid defence in which Baker and McEvoy were again outstanding, more than ably supported by Kilifin and Bardsley. Garstang's fourth place also looked a little more secure after the day's games with the two teams immediately below them, Euxton Villa and Dalton United, playing out a 2-2 draw.

Garstang: Brindle, Kilifin, Bardsley, Baker, McEvoy, Wilson R., Horton, Fawcett, Hunt, Wilson G, and Bamba. Substitutes: Maticheccia A (Hunt), Miller (Wilson G), Ireland (Bamba)

Barnoldswick: Walker, Chew, Reeves, Clark, Richardson, Cheetham, Alderson, Chapman, Gray, Bradshaw, Craig Substitutes: Kellon, Ditta

As Others See Us | Barnoldswick Town Website

Town first team goes down to two defeats over the Easter fixture programme.

Away on Saturday at Coppull United Town turned in a dismal performance against one of the basement teams of the division. Coppull scored early on through a scrappy goal with Town unable to muster hardly any attempts on the Coppull goal apart from Ashley Smith who should have scored with a header from 1 yard out, and another close in header from Damon Clark which the keeper did well to keep out.

The team faired worse on Easter Monday away at Garstang. Going a goal behind in the 2nd minute when keeper Mitch Walker called for the ball, a free kick halfway inside the Town half central to goal and came towards the edge of the penalty area but failed to get the ball, the Garstang forward heading it over him into the empty net. Town fell further behind on 21 minutes when a poor clearance pick up halfway inside the Town half was quickly played back towards the Town penalty area where the forward played a great ball inside the Town defence where the winger running onto it easily beat Walker.

Three minutes into the 2nd half saw Town go 3 down, a Garstang freekick taken on the Town right just outside the penalty area curled towards the near post where it looked like a Town defender headed through his own goal giving the startled Walker no chance. Town's first shot at goal came from Craig Bradshaw in the 56th minute, a shot that went about a yard over the top of the Garstang crossbar. Town did manage to pull one back on 77 minutes when a long throw adjacent to the Garstang penalty area was headed home by Damon Clark. This goal led to a bit of concerted pressure on the Garstang goal, the keeper tipping two shots over the bar for consecutive corners which came to nothing in the end. The scoring was completed in the 85th minute when a mix up in the Town defence allowed the Garstang forward to head home unchallenged.

It was a pity Town had only one substitute with 11 players declaring themselves unavailable due to various commitments which stopped them making any changes to the team during the game.

I know the silence from the First Team dug out has been deafening of late, i.e. no recent web site comments, but the games have been coming so thick and fast that by the time I’ve thought about the previous game, the next is upon us and it’s on with trying to put a side together.

I’ve gone on about missing players but, due to the injuries, a handful of reserve team players have been given their chances and have not let anyone down. Adrian Hunt, Rob Butler and, more recently, Kelvin Bardsley, Joe Miller, Jonny Baldwin and Andrea Maticheccia have all come in and played really well. Kelvin has just been edged out for ‘Man of the Match’ for the last two games and Aidrian is working his backside off for the team.

I’ll try and briefly sum up the recent games that I’ve not commented on, so here goes……

Fulwood (H) – awful, beaten by a side who were more organised and determined than we were on the day; very rare, but credit to them. Barnoldswick (A) – could have had all three points but happy with one on the night, we finished really strongly. Freckleton (H) – Geoff being Geoff, yes I should have taken him off before the trouble, but what a second half! Only going to be one winner. What determination, what responsibility by Adam Kilifin in stepping up for the penalty, and what a strike by Richard Wilson for the winner. Goal of the season? And in case anyone missed it, the save by Jimmy Brindle just after half time was of the highest calibre. Barnoldswick (H) – It’s nice to score early. Our opponents didn’t really turn up on Easter Monday but that’s up to them. I was pleased to get four goals for our efforts. Nice to hear Gaz Fawcett was seen training hard on Easter Sunday, well done Gaz.(No more!).

So, six out of six over Easter. Very pleased with that return and nice too for the fans who turned up to watch. I think they will have gone away relatively happy.

Ok, we’ve four left to play and, at this stage of the season, these games are almost impossible to predict. Some teams and players just want the season to end, and some, hopefully most of our boys, want to finish as strongly as possible. We’ll see. Third place is just possible, remains the target and is in our hands if we win all four remaining. Anything less than fourth though and I’ll be disappointed after having all worked so hard.

So for now, please continue to come and support us, both the First Team and the Reserves, it makes such a difference to the lads.