Town's get up and go – such an important part of their success this season – appeared to have got up and gone in the pouring rain of a Tuesday night.

It was a very poor performance from the home side, which displeased Brighouse manager Mark Brier.

He said: "I asked the lads at half time why they we so quiet, why were we so lethargic and why was our passing so poor?

"The attitude in the warm up was good, we talked about the War of the Roses and there was a bit of a buzz and we tried to raise everyone's game day.

"We noticed how much of a team they were. They were very verbal and looked a real collective outfit and I challenged the lads to show them we were the same and for some reason we didn't show up.

"It didn't help Joe (Townsend) getting injured and unfortunately Ash Townsend it transpired wasn't eligible to play for us. You have to have played an official game of football, even though he has been signed on since pre-season but because he hasn't kicked a ball for us they wouldn't allow him to play.

"He has only played training games for us because of how long it took for international clearance.

"We didn't seem interested in the game and I congratulated their coach, they wanted it more than us.

"If you make mistakes at this level of football you get punished. We were awful, there is no technical reason for it."

Barnoldswick were off the mark after just five minutes when Russell Clarke fired the ball into the back of the net. Town had not settled, had been losing possession and the visitors, roared on by some twenty faithful supporters, deserved their lead.

It was some 15 minutes later that Brighouse lost Joe Townsend with an injury to the right ankle from a tackle just outside his penalty box.

The home side added some pressure and after two cross-cum-shots on goal by Matthew Howgate they did equalise.

Barnoldswick goalkeeper Billy Carrington desperately scrambled to push the ball back out on the second Howgate cross as Danny Toronczak loop headed the ball into the back of the net to equalise.

A few minutes later Nathan Cartman was dispossessed and Spencer Jordan for the visitors looped the ball over the goal when it would have been easier to score.

In the 33rd minute the visitors went 2-1 up when Brighouse couldn't clear the danger and Jordan scooped the ball past keeper Reece Richardson.

A thorn in Brighouse's side, Jordan made a last minute attempt on goal before the end of the second half that gave the visitors another boost as they went in to the dressing rooms.

The home side came out positive and Wayne Crossley made an attack on goal straight away but it went just to his anguish.

Cartman then left footed on target from 30 yards out but again it went over and their goalie, Carrington was injured in the process as he crashed into the barriers, but carried on playing after treatment.

Howgate then took a long range shot that also went over the bar.

On 59 minutes Brier brought some fresh legs on when Jake Driver went off and Lee Burgess came on. Five minutes later and Barnoldswick brought Adam Hatton on and took Jordan off to warm applause.

Joseph Shelmerdine of Barnoldswick was given a yellow card for kicking the ball away after the referee had blown for a free kick.

On 70 minutes Brighouse keeper Richardson made a great save when Neil Chapman sent the ball on target.

A few minutes later and another long range shot came from Town skipper Andrew Markham but it hit the post.

In a late flurry, a corner for Barnoldswick saw the ball deflected off target by Hatton.

There was a quick sub for them as Chapman was replaced by Paul Barrett.
Hatton then helped put the game to bed as he put the ball across and super sub Barrett put it in the back of the net to make it 3-1 to the visitors.

Brighouse's Danny Hull was then given a yellow card for shirt tugging.

The game wrapped and the Brighouse players were as glum as the weather as they trooped off to get the hairdryer treatment off their manager who forcefully shut the dressing room door.

Brighouse: Richardson, Wood, Hallam, Cartman, Townsend, Brook, Driver, Markham, Crossley, Toronczak, Howgate. Subs: Burgess, Ogara, Parker, Hull, Williams.