App Frod 0-1 BARTON TOWN OLD BOYS
01/09/09

MATCH REPORT

Gareth Barlow ( 14 )

Attendance 85

A well-taken 14th minute header from Gareth Barlow maintained his goal a game start to the season and, more importantly, secured all three points for Town against local rivals, Appleby Frodingham to kick-start, hopefully, their league campaign.

With both sides missing any number of key players through suspension and injury, it was two much-changed sides which took the field for a game that was to be played throughout in heavy rain.

Barton began the game well, the left-sided combination of Pat Masterton and Ryan Morton to the fore in the early exchanges. With neither keeper having been seriously troubled, it all changed in the 14th minute. Town skipper, Craig Suddaby brought the ball out of defence and switched play to Morton on the left flank, the ball eventually finding the feet of the supporting Dave Moulds, whose driven cross into the area was glanced home by the alert BARLOW, past Craig Collinson in the " Frod " goal to put The Swans one up.

The hosts had an immediate chance to respond, Masterton heading off the Barton line following a " Frod " corner.

With both sides constantly over-hitting the ball on the skiddy surface, it wasn't until the 30th minute before another chance came anybody's way, a superb " dink " over the Appleby defence by Town's Shawn Mitchell releasing Barlow, who showed both good pace and strength to get his strike in from the tightest of angles, the ball hitting Collinson's near post and rolling invitingly across the face of the goal but without any Barton player in attendance for what would have been the simplest of finishes.

Barton keeper, Tom Nicholson then saved well from Gavin Knight's header before Morton's typically weaving run got him into a shooting position in the " Frod " area, but no shot was forthcoming. Mitchell then fired wide from the edge of the area before Barlow's break down the right-hand side channel saw him cut inside his man but failed to find the supporting Gary Atkinson, just minutes before the half-time whistle.

The second half almost began in the best possible way for Town, Barlow beating Collinson, who had, inexplicably, raced out of his goal chasing a through-ball near his own right corner flag. With the " Frod " keeper helpless, Barlow's good cross into the box was met by the head of the diving Morton, but an alert defender headed clear off the line for the hosts. Morton then turned creator, turning his marker first one way, then the other, before his near-post cross was met by the head of Barlow only to see Collinson redeem himself for his earlier rush of blood, turning the header away from point-blank range.

That was the end of Morton's contribution for the night, the wide-man hobbling off minutes later as Town re-jigged the line-up. The enforced changes gave Appleby the chance to come much more into the game, but although they enjoyed a large share of possession, they didn't overly trouble Nicholson playing behind a back four well-led by Suddaby and Ricky Foster, the nearest the hosts coming to an equaliser being when right back James Coulbeck got forward to fire a 25 yarder inches wide of Nicholson's left-hand post.

Indeed, Town had the best chance of the half in the 70th minute, Barlow's knock-down giving Mitchell the chance to chip just wide of Collinson's goal. As it was, Barlow's early goal proved enough, just, to get Town's league campaign up and running.

A league campaign which will now take a back-seat as the Old Boys return to cup action, travelling to Ollerton Town this Saturday for the FA Vase and then making the trip to Leicester and Bardon Hill Sports the following Saturday for a vital FA Cup tie. Replays notwithstanding, the next currently scheduled game at The Euronics Ground is not until Saturday. 26th September when, in a belated return to league football, Leeds Carnegie are the visitors to Marsh Lane.

TEAM: Nicholson; S.Thompson, Foster, Suddaby, Masterton; Bradbury ( Dibb ), Mitchell, D.Moulds, Morton ( McKay ); Barlow, Atkinson. Sub ( not used ) J.Thompson