A Liam Garbutt goal shortly after the break gave Barnoldswick Town the win in a tight affair at Valerie Park.

It came a minute after Steve Corris’ long range shot was parried away by Alexander Woodcock, which looked to promise a continuation of the good work displayed by the Reds in the first half.

After Spencer Jordan failed to turn home Garbutt’s cross within the first thirty seconds of the match, it was the home side who created the better of the chances. Jack Sinnott’s shot cum cross was beaten away by Woodcock before Corris’ header, following a Steve Jones corner, was headed off the line by Liam Blades. Corris was then on the end of a Steven Williams free kick but his header looped over the bar.

A Jones through ball fed Michael McGree but he saw his shot saved by the legs of Woodcock and in the follow up neither Jones nor Sinnott could force a shot. Woodcock then had to be at his best to deny Corris, who had found space out wide and looked to float his effort over the keeper. At full stretch though, he could only tip the ball to Jones but the Reds’ striker put his chance into the side netting.

Blades burst into the box to latch onto Garbutt’s lay off but only fired into the stanchion in what proved to be the visitors only other chance of the first half. With Woodcock having dealt with Corris’ effort, Paul Fildes was given too much room to fire in a shot that pinballed off Leon Bimpson and Richard Stenhouse, allowing Garbutt to poach what turned out to be the winner.

Once again AFC Liverpool shaded the half but they couldn’t fashion the chances like they did in the first forty five and a few set pieces were the closest they came to finding an equaliser. Jones’ long range blast was deflected over the bar whilst Williams’ similar effort whistled a couple of yards wide and though their efforts merited a point, it was the visitors who took all three.

AFC Liverpool 0-1 Barnoldswick Town
Garbutt 48′

Attendance: 117

Photo courtesy of Dave Williams