Lyndhurst U13   6   Barton Stacey U13    10

Don’t know where we’re going, got no way of knowing, riding on a road to nowhere; well second division Lyndhurst actually, for the second round of the cup.  With such a distance to travel, Barton’s age-old problem of losing cars and players on the way to the match was in danger of resurfacing.  Mr Hadlington was to depart from Winchester with a pantechnicon full of midfielders and a goalkeeper; the remainder would depart from Barton Stacey.  The directions on the web site gave the home ground in Bashley, the address in the handbook - Lyndhurst.  Roped together and in tight formation Barton set off in the general direction of the New Forest looking for a team to play.

Success!  first stop Lyndhurst, to be met by Barton’s midfield, goalkeeper and an opposition who also played in green and black – DOH!!  (And it was going so well)  A quick trip to the charity shop in Lyndhurst did not produce an away kit, so bibs were cadged from the opposition, Barton would play in “high viz” orange. 

Torrential rain the previous night and an early U12 game had turned the pitch to gloop. With no trace of lines, the pitch a leveller, Luke Bacon and Connor Jones unavailable and an opposition with nothing to lose, this tie was fraught with danger for travel weary Barton Stacey.

In a first half that was not pretty, Barton Stacey raced to a 6-goal lead in twenty minutes, losing their discipline late in the half to concede 2 goals. Graham White was unavailable for this game, the “stand in”coach’s incessant tinkering in the second half caused a myriad of problems to his confused team who didn’t know if they were coming and going.  Ten goals for Barton Stacey, from Michael Taplin 3, Charles Sherwood 3, Nick Bearpark 2, Harry Lawton and William de Cani kept Barton Stacey in front.  The six conceded entirely attributable to the moribund management of the hapless coach.

James Brooke hit the bar, and twice the ball stopped in the mud on the goal line to deny Barton Stacey a greater winning margin in this crazy cup-tie.  Sam Burrows played well, as did full backs Danny Tuson and Danny Ronan; Alex Coetzee enjoyed his sojourn in the midfield alongside Sam Hadlington. Dan Pomroy raided from the back while keeper Ollie Richards had a great time in the mud between the sticks.