Elliot Breaks Records as AFC Get Back to Winning Ways

After two recent defeats, The Non-League Reds secured three points with a convincing 3-1 home victory over Barnoldswick Town.

It was a great team performance, but the star of the show was Elliot Taylor. He hit his first hat-trick for the Club and in doing so, broke two individual AFC goalscoring records. However, it was the visitors who came out the blocks quickest and Ben Barnes was forced to make a very good save in the opening minutes.

Ben Barnes makes an important early save (photo by Paul Moran)

It didn't take long for Taylor to make an impact on the game though and when Skillen passed the ball through to him, he got there before the keeper to poke the ball into the back of the net, to give AFC a 12th minute lead.

Elliot breaks the deadlock

The record breaking started in the 26th minute, when Elliot Taylor held up the ball well in the centre circle and played it off to Matty Brown. He found Andrew Starkey who played a fine pass through to Taylor and he calmly finished past the keeper to double the lead. The goal was Elliot's 27th League goal and 34th in all competitions this seasons, breaking both records in the process.

Record Breaker!! Elliot gets the goal that broke the records

Elliot head over heels as he breaks the records (photo by Paul Moran)

Elliot's memorable day and the three points were sealed on the stroke of half-time, when he flicked a Caleb Jones corner towards goal and although it took a deflection off a visiting defender before going into the net, there was no denying Taylor his first hat-trick for AFC and a 3-0 half-time lead.

Elliot completes his hat-trick

The 2nd period started slowly with the outcome seemingly already decided. On 50 minutes, Taylor blasted an effort wide from the angle of the penalty area and had another strike that went wide a few moments later. Owen Fisher-Jones shot straight at the keeper from the edge of the box on the hour mark, as it began to look a bit too easy for the home side.

However, to their credit Barnoldswick continued to work hard and look for a way back into the game. They were rewarded on 71 minutes, when a good cross from the right was headed home well by by Andrew Hill, to reduce the arrears. However there were no further scares after this as AFC looked comfortable.

Joel Skillen went on one of his many runs into the area but couldn't top a fine display, as his shot went well wide. The visitors were reduced to 10 men for the last ten minutes, for a 2nd yellow card offence, but in reality the result was already beyond doubt thanks to a dominant first half display.

So an important win and a convincing one too for AFC. However, at the end of the game it was the goalscoring exploits of Elliot Taylor that most people were talking about. His tally of 28 League goals beats the previous best of 26, which Elliot set last season. His total goals for the season in all competitions moves to 35, which beats the previous highest of 33 set by AFC Legend Ryan Cox in season 2013/14.

The Non-League Reds have a tough game this Tuesday evening, when high flying Ramsbottom United are the visitors to the Berry Street Garage Stadium. Kick-off is 7:45pm and all support will be greatly appreciated if you can make it.

FINAL SCORE - AFC Liverpool 3 v 1 Barnoldswick Town

LINE-UP - 1. Barnes 2. Wright-Ocana 3. Giblin 4. Moorcroft (c) 5. Fisher-Jones 6. Hinnigan

7. C. Jones 8. Brown 9. Taylor 10. Starkey 11. Skillen

Subs used - Rooney, Smalley, Jamieson, Gerrard

Photos courtesy of Dave Williams (unless stated)