BARTON TOWN OLD BOYS V
GLASSHOUGHTON WELFARE
07/11/09

BARTON TOWN OLD BOYS 3 - 2 GLASSHOUGHTON WELFARE

Rob Northen ( 32, 37 )
Ryan Morton, pen. ( 40 )
Attendance 117

New signing, Rob Northen paid immediate dividends as his first half brace allied to a Ryan Morton penalty ensured Barton Town Old Boys maximum points against a dogged Glasshoughton Welfare side who pulled two goals back in the second half as The Swans almost contrived to throw it away. In truth, however, the final scoreline did not fully reflect Barton's superiority for much of the game, Glasshoughton keeper, John Sykes more than doing his bit to keep Town at bay.

Northen came straight into the starting line-up alongside Gareth Barlow, Morton reverting to the right, Declan Marshall making way. With Carl Wood unavailable, Lee Markham resumed at right back.

On a cold day, but in perfect conditions for football and in front of another encouragingly large crowd, Town made their intentions known from the start. In the very first minute, Hayden Barnett's 25 yard drive was only half-gathered by Sykes, the keeper just managing to dive on the rebound as Northen was the first to react to the loose ball. Two minutes later, Shaun Day was only inches wide, his right footed effort flying past Sykes' far post after Northen had bravely challenged the keeper for a high ball.

After the referee had disallowed a Morton " goal " following a foul challenge by Barnett on the keeper, Morton's deep free-kick eluded everybody only to strike the bar with Sykes flat-footed before the ball was cleared to safety. A cute Karl Hull free-kick then picked out Barnett on the right-hand side of the area. Barnett went past the keeper, but his chip into the six yard box was easily cleared by one of three Glasshoughton defenders, massed on the goal-line.

Gareth Barlow then fired one into Sykes' midriff following good approach play by Barnett and Day before the visitors' Danny Davidson missed a gilt-edged chance, firing against Tom Nicholson's legs and putting the rebound wide, the Town defence going to sleep as the offside flag stayed down.

Barton responded, Morton's great through-ball picking out the run of Northen whose strike, taken early, hit Sykes' far post with the keeper beaten. The rebound was met by the supporting Day whose goal-bound strike was somehow turned around the post by Sykes, covering huge ground to get back on his feet to race across goal to save a certain opening goal. But it only delayed the inevitable as Town hit three goals in a nine minute purple patch. In the 32nd minute, another Morton free-kick to the far post was headed back by Barlow across the six yard box and NORTHEN reacted first to turn the ball past Sykes.

Five minutes later, it was two. After winning and taking a corner on the left, Morton had the ball returned to him by Day. This time, Morton's ball to the near post was superbly swept home by NORTHEN. And in the 40th minute, it was Morton's turn. Barlow's pass across the edge of the area to Day saw the Town man judged to have been fouled by a Glasshoughton defender as he turned inside, much to the annoyance of the visitors' bench. Unfazed, up stepped MORTON to fire home the resultant penalty, low to Sykes' right.

If Town thought it was a case of " job done ", they were in for a rude awakening, Davidson pulling one back for the visitors in the very first minute of the second half. Sykes then came into his own again, turning a superbly-struck Morton 30 yarder over the bar before Shawn Mitchell headed over after more good work by Morton and Lee Markham down the right flank.

Barlow then scuffed his shot, having stayed on his feet following what looked like another foul in the penalty area, before Morton's cross to the far post picked out the head of Barlow, Northen reacting first to the knock-down, only to bring out the best in Sykes as the Glasshoughton keeper once more kept his team in the game, denying the new Old Boy a debut hat-trick. And Sykes' heroics looked all the more important for his team when Markham was correctly judged to have brought down a Glasshoughton forward in the area in the 65th minute. James Malone's penalty gave Nicholson no chance as the prospect of an unlikely comeback came into view.

However, that didn't materialise, the nearest anybody coming to another goal was Day who shaved the outside of Sykes' post following good work by Barlow in a tight area.

At the final whistle, Town could be pleased with their efforts although the players must learn from their habitual lack of concentration when they appear to think the game's been won. Most pleasing of all was the debut of Rob Northen who gave every appearance of fitting straight in.

Barton face a tough test next Saturday when they travel to Brighouse Town.

TEAM: Nicholson; Markham, Hull, Suddaby, Masterton; Morton ( Marshall ), Banett, Mitchell ( D.Moulds ), Day; Barlow, Northen. Sub ( not used ) L.Moulds.