Barton Stacey U13   5    CK Andover U13    0

Replete with their natty new wet weather gear courtesy of sponsors Toast, a well turned out Barton Stacey prepared to take on CK Andover, a side that they had yet to lose to in 6 seasons of Football.  The coaching staff also sporting new jackets, fitting where it touched on some, shedding pounds from the profile on others, on this wet and windy day they were more than welcome, and the team would like to thank the sponsors for their generosity.

Barton Stacey had one change from last week’s game against Ludwig Leisure, Charles Sherwood making the starting line up after his stunning 15-minute hat trick the previous week, Nick Bearpark taking his turn on the bench. 

In a first half dominated by Barton Stacey, Michael Taplin scored a hat trick and Charles Sherwood one as Barton raced to a 4-0 lead.  Playing simple passing football and refusing to bow to CK’s tough tackling, they created many chances, Alex Coetzee, Luke Bacon, Dan Pomroy and Sam Hadlington all had shots from outside the box saved, as Barton pressed the game and CK resorted to a six man defence; with little coming his way, Barton keeper Ollie Richards in repose in his six yard box. Several Barton boys picked up injuries as they were clattered by the unpolished CK play, the Barton medical team resorting to a pushbike to reach the far corners of the pitch, as they were regularly required to perform medical miracles with cold water and soothing words.  Shortly before the first half came to a close, a midfield flare up between Sam Hadlington and his CK counter part, drew the attention of the CK player’s mother, who left her post on the touchline to enter the fray and deliver a verbal volley that had no place in Prisoner Cell block H, let alone a boys football match; the boy in question shrinking in embarrassment at the actions of his voluble matriarch.  While she was one voice in a crowd of forty, it is the kind of behaviour that is remembered and engenders a bad name for Boys football. 

CK Andover reorganised in the second half, their damage limitation exercise restricting Barton to one more goal.  An absolute peach, Sam Hadlington beat man after man as he ran forty yards down the left flank, his cross setting up James Brooke to unleash a right foot thunderbolt from a full yard out to open his account for Barton Stacey, a richly deserved goal for Brooke who always gives a hundred percent and has been unlucky not to score on innumerable occasions, and reward for Hadlington after his irksome experience in the first half.