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3rd February 2008
GWA sponsored Barton Stacey faced second place Aldridge Vehicles on a dry and windy Sunday morning, the pitch threatening to turn to gloop at the merest sniff of rain. Barry Purdue had fourteen of his squad available, although key players Mickey Dewey and Jon Mark Spatcher were still out through injury, Luke Tiller having his first run out since injuring his ankle ligaments before Christmas.
Barton Stacey started the game well, competing equally with the team four places above them in Division 1, neither team creating any significant chances until the 25th minute, when Barton keeper Scott Tarrant was adjudged to have flattened Aldridge’s Terry Mythimkhulu in the box while defending a corner; Mythimkhulu converting the resulting penalty. Barton Stacey were soon back on level terms, Martyn Doolin’s 20-yard low drive finding the bottom corner of the net. With half time approaching Barton Stacey conceded a crucial goal, the Aldridge striker beating the last man and flicking the ball over the keeper to give Aldridge Vehicles a valuable half time lead. Manager Purdue who was looking forward to half time parity, forced to hastily reconsider his half time words of wisdom.
In the second half, and with the heavy pitch starting to cut up, legs and fitness were put to a stern test. Five minutes after the restart Aldridge scored a scrappy close range goal from a corner, following it up with a fourth in the 60th minute, the Barton back line stopping as they believed the Aldridge striker to be offside. Barton continued to create chances, Alex Iddles and Luke Tiller firing wide, as did Aldridge who were kept at bay by Rhys Betteridge and the impressive Guy Wilkinson in the centre of defence. Another game lost in the league for Barton Stacey, who in lengthy passages of this game competed on more than equal terms with title chasing Aldridge Vehicles.
