Early lead whittled away as Town suffer home loss

On 8 minutes Barnoldswick forced the first corner of the game, which was played to Andy Hill on the edge of the box and he fired over the bar.

Town almost doubled the lead on 12 minutes - Cox found Craig Cairns who thumped a shot against the bar. Then Kevin Exell’s ball across the face of goal was touched narrowly wide by Cox.

After being second best for the first quarter, Barnoldswick came back into the game. Ash

Brierley had a shot into the side netting, then John Shaw had to be alert to clear a cross into the 6 yard box. From the resulting corner Gareth Hill’s header was blocked and cleared.

The visitors equalised on 38 minutes when Brierley’s cross from the right was headed in at the far post by Paul Turner.

Barnoldswick picked up where they left off after the break, forcing a couple of smart saves from Adam Reid.

After soaking up that pressure Town had chances to regain the lead. Another pinpoint cross from Dursley found Cox and his header was brilliantly saved by Jordan Gidley in the Barnoldswick goal.

Cox had a shot blocked and Kevin Exell had a decent chance with a header that was just wide.

As in the first half Barnoldswick came back into the game and should have taken the lead on 70 minutes when David Lynch’s ball in from the left was sliced wide by Turner.

But two minutes later Barnoldswick did take the lead. Lynch’s cross from the left looped over Reid and into the net.

Town had chances to find an equaliser but weren’t able to take them. After great play between Exell, Ben Greenop and Cairns, Greenop’s shot was well saved by the keeper.

Then on 85 minutes Tom Ruffer found Exell and he played in Cairns who dragged his shot just wide.

Town have a chance to get some points on the board tonight when we travel to Litherland REMYCA, before they make the trip to Barnoldswick on Saturday for an FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round tie.

The Runcorn Town man of the match sponsored by Cases for Industry was Liam Turner.