West Didsbury & Chorlton 3 Barnoldswick Town 2

AFTER the excellent first half against Colne last Tuesday there was great optimism in the Town ranks that they could end their run of five defeats on the trot.

It proved short lived as West Didsbury went straight onto the attack pushing the Town defence back deep into their own half.

Scott Mason hit theTown bar before the unmarked Chris McDonagh fired past Chris after a corner was not cleared.

Didsbury continued to press and Taylor had to come swiftly off his line to claim the ball after McDonagh put Daniel Summers through.

Richard Gleave missed a golden chance and Summers shot over the bar.

Town had been under constant pressure but they almost scored after 24 minutes. Goalkeeper Jordan Hitchen brought down Mark Threlfall just outside the penalty area and from the free-kick, John Beckwith nearly turned the ball in at the far post.

Beckwith shot just wide and Joel Melia hit a fierce shot from the edge of the box that Hitchen couldn’t hold but there as half-time approached.

Town were hoping for a good start to the second half but two minutes after the break Anthony Pollard brought Scott Mason down inside the penalty area. The winger picked himself up and sent Taylor the wrong way from the ensuing penalty.

After 50 minutes McDonagh hit a Town post the ball rebounding to Summers who knocked it the wrong side of the post from a yard out.

Didsbury won another penalty after 65 minutes, this time Taylor guessed right and palmed Mason’s spot-kick back across his goal, the first to react was McDonagh who had a tap in from almost on the line.

Town replacedChris Ridehalgh and Paul Walker with Aaron Hollindrake and Matt Cavanagh after 60 minutes.

Town were given a lifeline in the 68th minutes when a cross to the far post saw Hollindrake place a header past Hitchen.

Didsbury still kept pouring forward, and Taylor had to make a good save to keep a Gleave shot out.

Town seemed rejuvenated and Hitchen made a save from a Melia shot with his feet before Broderick scored with a terrific shot from 30 yards out in the 74th minute. Sadly, it was not enough to save Town from their sixth-successive defeat