BARNOLDSWICK Town are in a far healthier state than their league position suggests, and they showed their promotion challenging credentials with a dominant win at Stockport Town on Saturday.

Barlick are 18th in the 24 team league, but have four games in hand on the majority of sides above them.

Stockport, who are 13th, fit exactly into that criteria, and though they only fell to a 1-0 defeat on Saturday, it was a minor miracle that the visitors did not run away with victory.

Leon Creech gave the hosts early warning with a tame shot on goal, before Callum Jakovlevs made a decent save at the other end.

Andy Hill had two decent openings for the away side, but sent both straight at the keeper.

The home side almost took the lead on the half-hour mark, only to fire a good chance off target, before Gareth Hill sent an effort wide for Barnoldswick.

Stockport’s keeper recovered from an error nicely to keep the visitors out, before the final chance of the half fell to Barlick, Lewis Farmer screwing his effort well wide.

Gareth Hill put the ball in the net early in the second half, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside, then Creech slammed an effort off the crossbar.

Stockport enjoyed a little flurry just after the hour mark, with some good defending from Barlick’s Brandon Barski followed by a superb Jakovlevs save.

The away side quickly climbed back on top, Andy Hill sending a free kick straight at the goalkeeper and Gaz Hill putting a header wide from Barski’s cross.

Andy Hill finally put Barnoldswick in front after 73 minutes, crashing home a superb left-footed volley from outside the area.

Jack Gooden and Creech combined to almost set up a second goal, then the latter was denied after getting in one-on-one.

In the end, one goal was all Barnoldswick needed, and the win sets them up nicely for a trip to 19th-placed Litherland REMYCA on Wednesday night.