Match Report | Les Taylor

Played under floodlights at the Silentnight Stadium, this was more than a creditable result, in difficult circumstances, against a decent Barnoldswick Town side. On the back of a 0-3 defeat the previous Saturday against Fulwood, Manager Somerside's first task was to put a side together with no fewer than seven first team squad members either injured or unavailable for the game.

Both teams were finding it difficult controlling the ball on a very firm end of season pitch, making chances few and far between, apart from a brief skirmish in the Garstang penalty box that caused concern. The first real shot in anger came from Geoff Wilson, after 25 minutes, that was well saved. Barnoldswick went in front on 37 minutes. Horton gave the ball away on the right hand side of midfield, the ball was quickly switched to the opposite flank to Craig, who made good ground before slotting the ball past Brindle.

Neil Williams replaced Adrian Hunt for the start of the second half. Brindle was soon in action fisting away a well struck shot by Chapman, otherwise Garstang were dealing quite comfortably with anything that the home team had to offer. Garstang's equaliser in the 75th minute was a quick piece of thinking by Cropper. His intelligent free kick into the feet of Cummins allowed him to turn and shoot, all in one move, finding the corner of the net through a ruck of players.

This was no more than the visitors deserved and almost provided the platform to take all three points when, in the closing minutes, Cummins once again worked space for himself in the box only to be thwarted by a good save from the home keeper.

There were too many heroes on the night to single any one person out; suffice to say that this was another typical solid Garstang team performance that deserved the result.

Garstang: Brindle, Cropper, Bamba, Baker, McEvoy, Cummins, Kilifin, Wilson R., Hunt, Wilson G., Horton.
Substitutes: Twiname, Miller (Cropper), N Williams (Hunt)

Images | Ian Blezard

As Others See Us | Barnoldswick Town Website

Skipper Stuart Airdrie has fractured his cheekbone in last nights 1-1 draw against Garstang. He took an elbow in the face during a corner. He is in Bradford Hospital awaiting a bed before he is operated on.

The team drew 1-1 against last season's champions. Lewis Craig gave Town the lead after 37 minutes. Ashley Smith going into a tackle just outside the penalty area, he failed to get the ball but created the perfect dummy as the ball rolled into the path of Craig, his low right foot shot giving the keeper no chance as it was buried in the far corner.

Like last Saturday at Blackpool, both defence's kept on top of the forwards for most of the game. Town's next best chance came in the 51st minute when Craig went down the left and pinged a great ball into the Garstang box. Neil Chapman controlled the ball and spun towards goal, but his shot went straight at the keeper.

Garstang equalised more or less as soon as Airdrie went off injured. Chris Gaskell gave a free kick away, the ball was played wide of the defensive wall, and the shot beat Walker. From then on there was only going to be one winner as Garstang piled on the pressure, and only a magnificent save from Mitch Walker saved the day in injury time.

So, for the remainder of the season, Town will have to find a new partner for Kevin Richardson in the centre of defence.