Barnoldswick Town 2 Squires Gate 4: Match report

Seear’s brother Ben, who stepped in as an emergency goalkeeper for Saturday’s defeat at Hanley, was back in his customary midfield role as Ben Fletcher was able to return between the sticks.

But the focus was soon on striker Ric, who burst into the box after a run down the left to fire low past the keeper after only four minutes.

A chance almost presented itself for Ben Seear on 19 minutes, when a poor clearance by the keeper fell to his feet on the edge of the box, but he was quickly closed down.

Gate did double their lead on 34 minutes, when Brett Dawson was hacked down in the box after a run through the middle and slotted the penalty away himself.

Ric Seear couldn’t quite put Dawson clear again, as Gate countered from a Barlick corner, and it remained 2-0 at half-time.

Gate did extend their lead six minutes into the second half, when Ric Seear got on the end of a perfect through ball and calmly beat the keeper.

The hosts looked more dangerous after the break and pulled one back on 63 minutes, when left-back James Crorken cut inside and fired into the top corner.

Barnoldswick then had two chances in quick succession, keeper Fletcher tipping over a shot from outside the box and then seeing a Town man blast over from close-range from a corner.

Ric Seear then celebrated his birthday in style with a hat-trick goal on 90 minutes, racing on to Joe Noblet’s perfect pass to steam into the box and beat the keeper.

There was time for Aaron Hollindrake to score a second for Barlick, though victory lifts Gate into the top half of the premier division ahead of Saturday’s home clash with second-bottom Barnton.

MARK ASHMORE

Gate: Fletcher, Richards, Alexander, Carroll, Bamba, Hall, Thornber, B.Seear, R.Seear, Dawson, Riley. Subs: Higham, Noblet, Buchan, Tanser, Stayte.