In truth, the Lilywhites were never really tested in what was essentially a comfortable three points but once again the Lilywhites had difficulty in turning their upper hand into goals.

Right from the first whistle the Lilywhites put pressure on the visitors’ goal and it came as no surprise when Connor Bolton scored an 8th minute goal after he was put in on goal by Conor Casey. This goal should have opened the floodgates for more but, despite most of the play taking place in the visitors’ half, very few clear-cut chances were created in the remainder of the first half.

The second half followed the same pattern. Connor Bolton missed a golden opportunity to double the Lilywhites’ advantage when he shot wide in the 61st minute and he then did likewise when the Barkingside keeper dropped the ball at his feet, nine minutes later.

The Lilywhites were well on top but at only 1-0 the result was still clearly in the balance. A second goal was needed to settle any nerves and, with eight minutes of normal time remaining, it came from substitute, Billy Skinner, with his first goal for the club. Connor Bolton’s free-kick from out on the right, caused chaos in the six-yard box and Billy prodded home from close range.

Ethan Gannon, keeping goal in the absence of the injured Liam Nugent, had a very quiet evening, having not really been troubled. He was therefore crestfallen when the assistant referee deemed that he had carried a long cross from out on the left, over his goal-line to give the visitors a consolation goal in the seventh minute of added-time.

The three points were safely in the bag, though, and they lifted the Lilywhites up to tenth in the table with three games remaining against three of the bottom four teams, all fighting to avoid relegation. They won’t be easy games!

Man-of-the Match: Jack Riddle

Team: Ethan Gannon, Syd Barker, Jimmy Agnew, Jack Riddle, Jack Gibbs, George Rankin (Bailey Eden 76’), Tobi Prentice (Arnis Lala 67’), Blue Gallagher, Callum Bennison (Billy Skinner 76’), Connor Bolton (Hadley Richards 87’) & Conor Casey (Aiden Critchley 67’), ,

Unused sub: Brad O’Mara