Barton Town Old Boys 2 v Brighouse Town 1

Club News | Wed 17th Sep 08
Posted by Ray McLaughlin

Town travelled to Barton's impressive new facilities to take on the unbeaten promotion favourites and if they hadn't already been aware of how big the step up from WRCL to the NCEL is, the set up at Barton and the quality of the opposition certainly made the point clear. This game was played at a frenetic pace throughout, full of quality passing football and every player on the field totally committed.
Town nearly took a shock lead in the first minute when Maltas and Crossley set up Swann, whose shot was deflected causing the keeper to claw the ball from underneath the crossbar. Barton came straight back at Town with Brown making a good save after a powerful run from a Barton midfielder. Town's defence of Rodgers, Charlesworth, Brook and Talbot were having to work overtime to contain the Barton attack, their strong centre forward in particular being a real handful. Rodger did superbly well to block a shot on the line after 19mins, a minute later Crossley robbed a defender and shot inches wide then Barton went straight back up field and hit the post - the pace of the game was unrelenting.
Barton finally made the breakthrough after 25mins. Town central defenders were dragged out of position from a throwing and a Barton midfielder ran into the space behind them to fire home. Town came under real pressure now, but did manage a couple of half chances; first Danny Ryan's cross-shot was saved by the keeper and then Swann headed down a free kick with no one managing to get a final touch. In truth though, Town were hanging on for half-time but frustratingly conceded a 2nd goal on 43 mins to a free header from a corner - if there has to be one real criticism of Town this season it has to be their defending of set pieces, especially corners and this was their undoing tonight. Just before half time Rodger made a great tackle to prevent Town going further behind.

The last 20 mins of the first half, Town had been out-played, but whatever Brier and Attwood said at half time certainly changed that. From the first minute Town pushed Barton back, forcing a corner from which Charlesworth's header tested the keeper. Swann then had a header from an Amoss cross saved as Town dominated. On 56mins Town got the goal their pressure deserved and what a goal it was. Town were awarded a free-kick 25yds out and Danny Ryan bent the ball into the top corner of the net for one of the goals of the season. Town were putting Barton under pressure all over the pitch which resulted in a opposition player loosing his head and getting sent off for two-footed tackle. Town poured forward, with subs McManamin, Bentley and Kirman adding fresh legs to keep up the momentum. Ryan and Crossley were causing major problems to the home defence who somehow managed to prevent a Town player from getting on the end of numerous crosses, whereas Barton were only playing on the break and wasting time holding the ball in the corners. Town's last chance came in stoppage time when Crossley beat the fullback but Swann was unable to keep his header down from 8yds out.
Attwood, Towns coach, commented after the game that a 20min spell at the end of the first half had cost Town the game - and although this could not be denied, the quality and commitment shown by the players for the other 70 mins surely meant that on another day Town would have got a deserved point out of this game.