Back to the league this week and thankfully a home tie for travel weary Barton Stacey. With only four league games remaining, Barton were looking to consolidate their position in third place in division 1, this really was a must win game.  The augurs predicting three points for the boys in green after convincing wins away in the league and at home in the cup against today’s opposition.

On a beautiful sunny morning and with U13, U9 and U8 games all being played simultaneously, the Barton Rec really was a festival of football. The verdant pitch a soupcon of impending spring. The lines, a dazzling white, clearly visible from space. What could be better?

Well three points would have been nice.  In an error strewn first half Barton Stacey were forced to play catch-up football.  Soporific for much of the thirty-five minutes and finding form in the briefest passages of play, Barton equalised twice through Michael Taplin and Charles Sherwood each time after the influential Luke Bacon moved the ball wide. 

Two all at half time this had all the signs of being “one of those days” With an embarrassment of riches on the bench Graham White had plenty of options if the on- field eleven did not find their feet early in the second half. 

After more indecisive play, and swift attacking by Tidworth, Barton fell two goals behind. Graham White gambled, removing defender Dan Pomroy and introducing new signing Harry Pereira to the midfield. James Brooke detailed to man mark the free running number seven, captain Coetzee stunned at the initial loss of his debating partner, relieved to see him return at right back filling in for the unfortunate Danny Tuson who had to withdraw through injury; Tuson gets better and better with each game he plays at right back and must be a contender for most improved player of the year, along with Connor Jones and Sam Burrows who were unfortunate not to get a run out in this game.

With ten minutes remaining Charles Sherwood scored Barton’s third and his seventeenth of the season with a stunning header, William de Cani pulled Barton level shortly afterwards when he threaded the ball between the keeper’s legs to score his twelfth of the season.  With Barton Stacey finally in the ascendancy chances began to flow James Brooke attempted a spectacular volley from thirty yards, Sam Hadlington bustled his way through the middle to test the keeper.  The impressive Harry Lawton pushed on at left back to join the attack.  The league’s best shot stopper, Ollie Richards, reduced to watching the under nine game going on behind his goal. In the final minute and with Daniel Ronan poised to join the fray, Nick Bearpark flung himself at a William de Cani cross, the ball flying narrowly over bringing gasps of relief from the Tidworth bench. 

Two points dropped for Barton Stacey who now rely on other results going their way to secure third place in division 1.

Congratulations to Sam Hadlington and William de Cani on their selection for the U13 league representative side for the return match against the Peter Houseman league side.