GEDLING TOWN 2-2 BARTON TOWN OLD BOYS
15/08/09

MATCH REPORT

Attendance 37

Gareth Barlow ( 41 )
Craig Suddaby ( 85 )

An 85th minute equaliser by Town skipper, Craig Suddaby earned Barton a replay in this extra preliminary round of the FA Cup in a game which only sparked into life in the second half.

On an excellent playing surface but with a very strong wind making it difficult for both sides, the game began scrappily, neither keeper being seriously troubled in the opening exchanges. Town, with the wind at their backs, constantly over-hit their passes while the hosts struggled to make much headway against a young Barton defence well-marshalled by Suddaby.

Just as a half-time stalemate was looking on the cards, the visitors broke the deadlock, albeit in somewhat fortuitous circumstances. A 41st minute Hayden Barnett through-ball was chased down by Gareth Barlow, more in hope than expectation, but Gedling keeper, James Mason's clearance struck the onrushing striker, the ball falling kindly for BARLOW to roll it into the empty net. Stung into life, Gedling began the second half on the offensive, Town keeper, Tom Nicholson blocking well with his legs from danger-man, Rob Gill in the 46th minute. Barton responded, Nathan White freeing up Ryan Morton whose dangerous low cross from the left eluded everybody before Gedling equalised in the 51st minute. Sam Brooks' pass was intercepted by Robbie Mawer who was able to run on and pick his spot past Nicholson.

Galvanised, Gedling went looking for a second and it duly arrived in the 56th minute, Gill lobbing the ball neatly home after a clearance had rebounded to him.

At this stage, Barton could have no complaints about the score-line, but going a goal down spurred them on to produce their best football of the game. Twice, Sean Thompson broke down the right flank but without finding the all-important "killer" ball and although Gedling responded, Aaron Large firing well over when well-placed, it was Town substitute, Lee Mohammed, making his competitive debut for Barton following a pre-season blighted by injury, who brought out the best in Mason. The Gedling keeper turned Mohammed's well-struck effort over the bar following good, determined work by Morton and Barnett. As Town pushed on for an equaliser, it left them vulnerable to the counter-attack, Nicholson again blocking well with his legs from Graham Epps. Barton then rode their luck, a Gedling shot looping off a foot, over the stranded Nicholson, before cannoning against the bar and being cleared to safety. When, just moments later, another Gedling effort hit the outside of Nicholson's right-hand post, it seemed as if Lady Luck was smiling on The Swans.

And so it proved. Five minutes from time, a Morton corner was cleared only as far as Barlow, lurking on the edge of the box. When his well-struck effort came out again, SUDDABY was on hand to fire home from eight yards out. There was still time for White to head off the line as Gedling, clearly shell-shocked, made one last effort to win the tie, but it wasn't to be.

Seconds later, the referee blew for time, leaving the two sides to do it all again on Tuesday night at The Euronics Ground ( kick off 7.45pm ) for the right to host Kirby Muxloe in the next round.

TEAM : Nicholson; Brooks, J. Thompson, Suddaby, White; S.Thompson, Moulds ( Mitchell ), Barnett, Morton; Barlow, Clare ( Mohammed ). Subs ( not used ) Masterton, Clark, Cawsey.