BARTON TOWN OLD BOYS 2 - 1 BOTTESFORD TOWN (AET)
25/08/09

MATCH REPORT
Attendance 140

Ricky Foster (30), Gareth Barlow (113)

Barton Town Old Boys bounced back well from last Saturday's defeat at Staveley, eventually coming out the winners by the odd goal in three in a League Cup tie against local rivals, Bottesford Town, a game that required extra time to separate two closely-matched sides.

With keeper Tom Nicholson injured, the ever-reliable Phil Dobson came into the Old Boys' starting eleven, alongside the returning Karl Hull for the injured Craig Suddaby. Town gave a debut to Gary Atkinson on the right flank. With a point to prove following the Staveley debacle, Barton began the game well, on the front foot, the returning Gareth Barlow heading well over as early as the second minute. Ryan Morton then turned his man inside-out, Atkinson just failing to get on the end of the winger's slightly over-hit ball into the Bottesford area.

Stand-in skipper, Hayden Barnett was proving very influential in the opening stages and his perceptive ball over the top picked out Barlow, who fired over. The growing understanding between Barlow and Lee Mohammed was evident in the eighth minute as the pair worked an opening for Mohammed to make space for himself before trying his luck from 25 yards out, Bottesford keeper, Leigh Cook easily gathering. Town continued to dominate and good work by Sean Thompson and Atkinson saw Barlow turn just outside the box and fire well over. Bottesford's first effort came in the 27th minute, James Leach firing wide into the side-netting when he might have tested Dobson in the home goal. Three minutes later, Barton went in front. After being fouled on the left touchline, Morton's free-kick was cleared for a corner on the right. Morton's delivery picked out the head of Ricky FOSTER who leapt above everybody to power home at the far post to give Town a deserved lead. Town immediately went about doubling their lead, Mohammed breaking at pace in the inside right channel before powering a well-struck left- footed effort at Cook, who held on well. Atkinson then turned well, his shot coming back off Cook, who retrieved the ball , just before the lurking Barlow could intervene. A Barnett flick-on then released the busy Mohammed whose dangerous ball across the Bottesford six yard box just eluded the sliding Atkinson at the far post. With the half running down, Bottesford upped the pressure, but the Barton defence, in which new centre back pairing of Foster and Hull showed great promise, held firm. Indeed, it was the home side who had the last chance of the half, Mohammed, showing a great first touch, getting on the end of a high Barlow clearance to outpace the visitor's defence to fire against the outside of Cook's right-hand post. It was all to no avail, however, as the assistant's flag went up for offside, much to Barton's frustration.

That was the end of Mohammed's contribution for the night as his injury problems resurfaced, Lee Moulds coming off the bench for the start of the second half. Bottesford had clearly been given " a talking to " at half-time as the visitors began the period much more purposefully. Keeping the ball well, they pressed Town's backline but without really testing Dobson in the home goal, who looked very comfortable in everything asked of him. Barton were now playing increasingly on the break and from one of those, Morton rolled in the overlapping Pat Masterton whose over-hit cross to Cook's far post eluded everyone. If the first half had been Barton's then the second was proving to be Bottesford's, Tim Lowe firing a cross-shot against Dobson's bar as the visitors upped the ante. After Barton's Atkinson had missed a great chance to give the Swans some much-needed breathing space and with time quickly running out, Bottesford drew deservedly level, with substitute, Craig Bridge turning well on the edge of the area to rifle home an unstoppable effort past a helpless Dobson. With extra time beckoning, the hosts responded well through substitute Mark Clare and Atkinson before the referee blew for time. With both sides tiring, it was inevitable that the game would become stretched and so it proved. The best chance of the first period of extra time fell to Bottesford, a header back across Dobson's goal striking the left-hand post, the ball being immediately transferred to the other end, the muscular Lee Moulds forcing his way through one on one, only to be thwarted by Cook.

At the start of the final period of extra time, and with the prospect of penalties looming ever-larger, Barton seemed to find a collective second wind. Good work by Barlow saw him lay the ball off to the supporting Barnett, still working tirelessly alongside Dave Moulds. Barnett's shimmy and step-over created the time and space only for his curling effort from 25 yards to sail inches the wrong side of Cook's right-hand post. Barton continued to press, a great kick by Dobson picking out Barlow to power a left-foot drive at Cook. Then, in the 113th minute, the breakthrough came. Barnett did all the hard work, working his way into the area and then the right side of the six yard box before pulling the ball back to BARLOW to fire home at the near post. Barnett was then cautioned for taking his shirt off as Town celebrated what proved to be the winner. As Bottesford threw caution to the wind, Lee Moulds then forced a good save from Cook before seeing red for a second cautionable offence, just seconds before the referee finally called time on what had been an engrossing local derby, played in front of a healthy crowd, which could have gone either way, right to the last. Barton can take great heart from the win but now need to transfer their cup form to their bread and butter, the league. But before they can do that, there's an FA Cup tie with Leicester side Kirby Muxloe at The Euronics Ground this Saturday to contend with.

TEAM: Dobson; S.Thompson, Hull ( J.Thompson ), Foster, Masterton; Atkinson, D.Moulds, Barnett, Morton ( Clare ); Barlow, Mohammed ( L.Moulds ).