Garbutt on target in tough test (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Garbutt on target in tough test

9:02am Monday 6th August 2012 in Sport

The start of the new season saw last season’s fourth placed side play fifth in a tough opening day encounter at the Millbank Stadium in Runcorn.

Despite missing a few players, Barlick made a bright start and took the lead after five minutes when Mark Threlfall from crossed to Liam Garbutt, who easily beat Tom Brockhurst in the Linnets goal.

The play ebbed and flowed mostly in midfield until the 20th minute when the Linnets were awarded a corner on the Town left.

It was floated over towards the far post and headed back across goal where Paul Bowes unmarked headed firmly past Marko Marosi in the Town goal from six yards out.

Marosi came to the Town’s rescue a minute later with a fantastic double save to thwart the Linnets forwards and again two minutes later, diving to tip round the post a drive by Lewis Callaghan.

Town seemed to be struggling to put any pressure on the Linnets defence, a Liam Blades cross found Threlfall but his looping header bounced of the top of the crossbar for a goal kick.

In the second half, Runcorn came out meaning business.

They thought they had scored. A free kick from outside the Town penalty area hit the foot of the post, the ball rebounded to a Linnets player whose shot was blocked on the line by Williams, the ball hitting the underside of the Town bar before being put in by a Linnets forward. The goal was disallowed for a foul on Town keeper Marosi.