ON A day when Barnoldswick expected to consolidate their position in the West Lancashire League Premier Division, they were firmly beaten by a reconstructed Springfields outfit.

Some of the home side's signings have been recruited from a higher standard of football, but the visitors were certainly not at their best and they again found that when you perform below the required standard, you pay the price at this level of football.

Barnoldswick need to have the entire team working harder, thinking faster and being more alert as well as their passing being sharper.

After a sustained period of pressure, a speculative effort from 25 yards beat Mitch Walker in the Barnoldswick goal, Mitch, who is getting better by the week, again walked away with the man-of-the-match award, and but for him the scoreline would have looked a hell of a lot worse.

Barnoldswick, after an initial 25-minute onslaught, started to get into the game and had a couple of reasonable efforts, Paul Corrigan being the unlucky player on both occasions.

Springfields started the second period very brightly, and got a goal within two minutes of the restart. A swiftly taken, if controversial, free kick, and with Barlick on the back foot, the home team had a two-goal advantage.

The Barnoldswick heads started to drop and they were never in the game again, and a further two late goals sealed the points for the home side.

This Saturday, Barnoldswick are back at West Close where their opponents will be Blackrod Town (kick-off 2.15pm).

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