These two teams had met in the season opener at Hatch Warren, Barton Stacey winning 2-1.  Subsequent results had revealed Hatch Warren to be a strong side with serious ambitions of finishing in the top three of division 1, Heavy rain and high wind the least of Barton’s worries as they took on one of the league’s “in form”  sides, at least Graham White had returned to steady the ship after the chaos of the previous week.

Barton Stacey started the game well; playing some superb passing football and taking an early lead courtesy of William de Cani.  Five minutes later Nick Bearpark had the chance to make it two, the Hatch Warren keeper bravely saving Bearpark’s close range shot on the line.  Hatch Warren slowly found their feet and finished the half the stronger team; classy defending from Alex Coetzee and Dan Pomroy, coupled with some superb dives in the puddle-ridden box from keeper Ollie Richards keeping Barton in front. 

One goal in front at half time, Barton were forced to reorganise, Harry Lawton withdrawing through sickness, Nick Bearpark moving to left back, his place in midfield filled by Luke Bacon.

For the first period of the second half Hatch Warren continued to be the dominant side, first equalising, then hitting the bar, before finally taking the lead after some direct play through Barton’s centre.  Barton Stacey dug deep, and in a goal forged in the “7 a side” days of yester year, equalised; Michael Taplin chasing in a William de Cani shot, that in the atrocious conditions, the keeper could only parry.

While to many sane and weather beaten spectators this would have seemed the ideal juncture to shake hands on a draw and go home for a hot bath, the boys had other ideas. Driving themselves on to limits not previously experienced, they produced a grandstand finish in the most appalling conditions.  Hatch Warren re-took the lead only for Barton  to equalise, Connor Jones the scorer after good work by Luke Bacon, Sam Hadlington and James Brooke.  Both keepers sustained injury as they bravely kept their respective sides in the match. Heavy legs chugged up and down the flanks trying to carve an opening, last ditch defending by the bruised and battered back lines, tireless running by each and every striker. Breathless stuff, and as the whistle blew, there wasn’t a player on the pitch from either side who was not running on empty. The score line a fair one, and a true reflection of a game superbly refereed by Daniel Ronan’s Dad.  As the rain stopped, and the myriad of colours from a sea of umbrellas receded, calls were made home to switch the hot water on, a hot bath the least reward for a gutsy display of youth football.

Barton Stacey remain unbeaten in 5 games and lie 3^rd in Division1. Up to date match reports for U13s are available on the web site www.bartonstaceyfootballclub.co.uk, along with competitions to win big cash prizes, the secret to eternal youth and how to look good in green.