Burley Trojans 0

Barnoldswick United 3

Plucky Trojans bowed out of the County Cup at the first hurdle against an excellent Barnoldswick side who were different class.

Ironically Trojans had not originally entered the County Cup but their recent record prompted the West Riding FA to upgrade them from the Trophy.

It is a credit to the home side that they stuck gamely to their task and competed for 90 minutes when lesser sides may have gone under in the face of the constant barrage.

Barnoldswick are currently riding high in the Premier Division of the West Lancashire League and, with the most of their players paid to play, the gulf in class was to be expected.

The bumpy surface proved no distraction to the visitors as they settled quickly into a slick rhythm and their passing and movement was a cut above anything seen on The Rec in recent seasons.

Combative centre-forward Darren Rigby should have opened the scoring when he was clean through but the excellent Chris Hargreaves blocked bravely and then the same player was denied by Chris Lloyd's timely intervention.

Right-back Manzar Ditta was causing all sorts of problems with his excellent dead ball delivery with first Paul Corrigan volleying over and then Paul McDowell seeing a goalbound header superbly cleared off the line by Jonny Lofthouse.

Ditta had to be alert at the other end to clear the danger as Lofthouse threatened in a rare Trojans' attack.

The goal which the visitors play deserved duly arrived midway through the first-half when Neil Chapman pounced on a loose ball to drive a rising shot past Hargreaves much to the joy of the sizeable travelling support. The overworked Trojans' 'keeper, who shared the Man-of-the-Match award with the outstanding Keiren Hanogue at centre-half, then saved from both Corrigan and Chapman as the home side struggled to keep Barnoldswick at bay.

The impressive Kieron Roberts added the second ten minutes before the interval sending a low finish past Hargreaves.

Trojans managed to stem the tide in the second-half and enjoyed much more possession without ever posing a real threat. Stuart Copley nicked the ball away from Roberts as the midfielder looked certain to score and then Hargreaves did well to keep out a Ditta free-kick.

The game had been played in excellent spirit however the aggressive Rigby was fortunate to stay on following three episodes of indiscipline within five minutes.

Referee Gareth Nutter, who had a fine game, deemed a yellow card sufficient and Digby went on to make the headlines for the right reasons when he ran through before being upended by Hanogue to earn a penalty.

Corrigan made no mistake from the spot to put the game beyond Trojans' reach. Goalkeeper Chapman snatched a Lloyd free-kick off Chris Connolly's toe and then made a fingertip save from a menacing free-kick from the Trojans' centre-forward as the courageous home side took the fight to their opponents.

From the resulting corner the ball fell to Gareth Goodison whose drive was too high. Chapman hit the inside of a post and Hargreaves was called into action yet again to prevent substitute Paul Harrison from adding to the lead.

He then made his best save of the afternoon when he plunged low to his right to claw away a powerful downward header.

Despite the result there were many positives for manager Chris Worts to take from the match, notably the impressive display in midfield from Ian McKain and the excellent way in which Lloyd settled into the back four on his debut.

l On Saturday Trojans entertain Harold Styans, kick-off 2.30pm hoping to record their first league double of the season. Players should meet at the Cricket Club at 1.30pm.