North West Counties League

Division One

Bacup Borough FC 0

FC Oswestry Town 1

FC Oswestry Town kept a rare clean sheet in their game against Lancashire side Bacup Borough to claim their third away win of the season.

Manager Dan Stevens had called on his side to improve their defensive solidity after they had conceded 22 goals in their opening nine league games.

Saturday’s starting 11, which included debutant Josh Parker at centre back, duly responded and were resolute throughout.

Stevens said: “We were impressive for the full 90 minutes and I thought defensively we really stuck at it and were tough to break down.

“I thought Josh Parker and Al Morris in the heart of defence performed superbly and I feel we dealt with set-pieces much more comfortably than we had in recent weeks.

“We controlled the game for long spells and it was good to see our other new signings Jackson Hassanyeh and Tom Halton impress in their first game.”

The only goal of the game came courtesy of Callum Graybrook’s first-half strike, which lifted Town to 13th in the division.

Bacup could have drawn themselves level but their striker blazed the ball over the crossbar from a first-half penalty.

Town also lost Liam Molloy to two yellow cards, both of which were issued during nine minutes of injury time at the end of the game.

Stevens added: “We’ve got competition for places in our squad now, which is really pleasing. There are three or four players vying for the same position, which is what we want to see.”

FC Oswestry Town face two more away games this week. Tonight they take on Stockport Town, before a trip to Merseyside to face St Helens Town on Saturday.