BARDON HILL SPORTS V BARTON TOWN O.B.
12/09/09

LATEST RESULT

BARDON HILL SPORTS 5-0 BARTON TOWN OLD BOYS

( FA CUP QUALIFICATION ROUND 1)

Attendance 126

Barton Town Old Boys crashed out of the FA Cup, going down heavily to Leicester's Bardon Hill Sports. Town can have no complaints, they were second-best in every department to a very impressive football-playing side.

Still without the much-missed Hayden Barnett, Town drafted in the fit-again Nathan White to partner Dave Moulds in central midfield with youngster Jake Thompson coming in at right back, namesake Sean moving up into a wide right midfield role, in place of the absent Gary Atkinson.

Bardon Hill began the game well and Town found themselves on the back-foot from the off, both Hill front-men proving adept at holding the ball up on the edge of Town's area before playing supporting runners in behind the Town defence.

It wasn't until the 13th minute that Barton broke the shackles, Ryan Morton's run ending in a foul on the edge of the Bardon Hill area. From the resultant free-kick, Lee Mohammed's effort flew wide of the far post. Bardon Hill opened the scoring in the 18th minute when Vernon Hart-Harper, who was to prove hugely influential throughout the 90 minutes, picked up a loose ball in the centre circle, advanced and played the ball to the feet of a Sports forward, kept running and with no Town player tracking his run, was able to collect the return pass and fire low past Tom Nicholson in the Swans' goal.

Town tried to respond, Gareth Barlow's half-volley flying over after good work by Sean Thompson and Mohammed but Town looked terribly vulnerable to Bardon Hill's quick-fire breaks down both flanks and it was no surprise when the hosts made it two in the 34th minute. After a spell of head tennis in which Town had a chance to clear their lines, the ball dropped invitingly at the feet of Adam Griffiths, who rifled home past the helpless Nicholson.

Again, Town tried to respond, but without any real conviction, Barlow doing well to win a corner following a good turn and penetrative run into the box. From the resultant corner, Sports immediately turned defence into attack, something they did superbly well all game, only to be foiled by a raised flag for offside, as the game threatened to run away from Barton as the half wore down.

The game was over as a contest a minute into the second half. Another quick break down Town's left flank saw a low cross eventually despatched by the head of the diving Matt Garner. Although Town tried to get back into the game, Barlow's neat reverse pass just failing to set-up the supporting Dave Moulds, Bardon Hill continued to look devastating on the break. And so it proved in the 62nd minute, a break down Sports' left giving Liam Hebberd all the time he needed to finish the job.

For Town it was now only a matter of pride, Moulds curling one effort over and Sean Thompson firing over after linking with Barlow but time and time again, Bardon Hill's breakaways caused the visitors huge problems, Tom Nicholson twice coming to their rescue, superbly tipping goal-bound efforts away.

With the hosts easing up, Town then enjoyed their best spell of the game, but without seriously testing Arron Harris in the home goal. Town's best chance to add some respectability to the scoreline came, and went, in the 78th minute when Dave Moulds glanced his header wide after some good work by Morton, Barlow and Pat Masterton.

Barlow then fired across the six yard box and from the corner which followed, Morton's inswinger was headed off the line by a Sports defender before substitute, Dave Jones put the icing on the cake in the last minute, calmly lobbing home over the exposed Nicholson with Town's defence all at sea. Town were well beaten by a far superior side on the day, who will fancy their chances of making further progress in the competition if they can maintain this kind of form. The Old Boys need to lick their wounds and take stock. Without a game this Saturday, they should have ample time to do just that.

The next game at The Euronics Ground is this Thursday, when, in a new venture for the Club, Barton Town Old Boys Under 19's host Ossett Albion in the Northern Alliance League ( kick off 7.45pm ).

TEAM: Nicholson; J.Thompson, Foster, Suddaby, Masterton;S.Thompson, D.Moulds ( McKay ), White ( Mitchell ), Morton; Barlow, Mohammed ( L.Moulds ). Subs ( not used ) Cawsey, Stead.