Squires Gate 3 Barnoldswick Town 1: Gate on target for top-10 after comeback win

Squires Gate are on target for a top-10 finish in the North West Counties League after recording back-to-back premier division victories.
Squires Gate celebrate their second goal by Dean Ing Picture: ADAM GEESquires Gate celebrate their second goal by Dean Ing Picture: ADAM GEE
Squires Gate celebrate their second goal by Dean Ing Picture: ADAM GEE

But after Saturday’s win over Runcorn Town, Gate were given an early scare when struggling visitors Barnoldswick took the lead on Tuesday.

Two former Gate players linked up for the eighth-minute goal as winger Alex Ralph found Joe Noblet and he fired home.

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Gate tried to respond but had a penalty appeal waved away when Declan Baldwin went down, then Dean Ing’s shot was deflected wide for a corner.

The hosts were forced into an early change when Cameron Gourley couldn’t continue after a strong Barlick challenge and was replaced in defence by Saturday’s goal hero Ryan Dodd.

The visitors had the chance to extend their lead from the penalty spot but former Barlick keeper Jordan Gidley guessed right to make a key save.

And it remained 1-0 at half-time as Baldwin’s shot cleared the bar, after good Gate link-up play by James Boyd and Josh Pollard had set him free.

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Gidley again had to be alert at the start of the second half, sprinting off his line to deny Mama Djabi a one-on-one.

Gate were reduced to 10 men for a spell when Ing was sinbinned for dissent but his return saw the game turned on its head.

First Josh Westwood headed the deserved equaliser from substitute Ryan Riley’s corner on 67 minutes.

And just two minutes later Ing reacted quickest to a cross to score his 14th of the season.

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Riley tried his luck from halfway on seeing the keeper off his line and the winger’s shot drifted just wide.

Unselfish work by Ing created further chances before victory was sealed through man of the match Boyd on 89 minutes.

Barlick were dispossessed trying to play out from the back and Boyd found the bottom corner to lift Luke Evans’ side two places to ninth.

Gate make their longest trip of the season to Stoke on Saturday to face bottom club Hanley Town.

Gate: Gidley, Gourley, Higham, Holden, Westwood, Tanner, Pollard, Baldwin, Boyd, Ing, Johanson. Subs: Dodd, Riley, Iley, Garratt