Post by Dave on Mar 30, 2024 12:31:18 GMT
Match Referee Dave Corderoy
Final Score Barton Athletic 3 Paignton Saints 2nd 2
Match Preview
The weather has once again done its best to wipe out as many football matches as possible this weekend. The Good Friday games between Buckland Athletic v Brixham AFC, Newton Abbot Spurs V Teignmouth deprived many of their Good Friday football fix.
The Saturday game I had planned to cover between Beesands Rovers and Ilsington Villa also fell foul to the weather, but at least I knew there was no fear this game would not go ahead. While not my favourite venue to capture match images, it is on my doorstep and it should remain dry and possibly sunny.
I did cover the reverse fixture of today’s’ game on the 21st October at Coach Road. Barton were in top spot in the league table and unbeaten and looking to open up a four point gap on second place Paignton Saints 2nd. When Barton went two goals up I honestly thought I was going to witness my first Barton win for a very long time. But the Saints had other ideas and after getting a goal back just before halftime, scored two more goals in the second half.
Since that game Barton have suffered three more defeats in the league, two of them against the only two teams that have beaten Paignton saints 2nd this season, Newton Abbot Spurs 3rd and Bovey Tracey Reserves.
As a result Barton have dropped to 5th place in the league table and while I feel their chance to become this seasons Division Two Champions may have now passed, with games in hand over clubs above them, they can certainly finish higher up the table.
Saints 2nd have dropped to 4th place in the table, but they are only seven points behind the league leaders Newton Abbot Spurs 3rd and do have three games in hand over them. A win today for the Saints would certainly help them in their push towards that top spot.
Both teams have proved they have plenty of goals in them and banged in forty two each in league fixtures. But the Saints have only conceded sixteen goals while Barton has conceded twenty nine.
Barton will firstly have to make sure they defend properly against the Saints if they want to emerge victorious. It promises to be a cracking match and the points are there for both teams to claim.
May the best team win
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Match Report
At my age I do sometimes find it hard to get up from the settee and go out. But when I get treated to such a fantastic entertaining game as I did today, I am so glad I find a way to make the effort.
Today’s game was the best advert for grassroots football you will ever see, none of this slowed down action like our England team play, just non stop action from the very first whistle until the final one.
I like many have found myself getting a bit down with all this constant rain and poor weather, so what a treat it was for me to be sat there on my stool in sunshine; it was the perfect weather for a game of football.
In the first match between these two teams I was expecting a Barton win, but as we know it was the Saints who came out on top. Today looking at recent form etc, I thought the Saints would come out on top again, how wrong was I and the reason I never ever bet on anything.
On the day the Barton lads were just that bit better, often stronger in the tackle and maybe just wanted it that bit more. The saints did enjoy some good spells in the match but did not threaten the Barton goal as much as I would have expected them too.
The match referee got the game underway and Barton won the first corner of the game. The corner was fired high into the Saints box but knocked back outside the right hand side of the box. The ball was fired back into the box again and Liam Northcott rose majestically and headed the ball into the back of the net.
Barton were passing the ball well and at this stage were slightly on top. Saints had a half chance to get back onto level terms when Billy Reay was played into the Barton, box, but he hooked his effort over the crossbar. Saints Captain Jason Dingley came close when a ball was fired into the Barton box from the left hand side of the pitch. He got a good head on the ball but the ball went just wide of the right hand post.
Saints were now much more in the game and at this stage there was nothing to really choose between the two sides. Saints Ryan Mcgee took a shot from just outside the box, but he failed to get any real power into his effort and it was an easy save for Scott Taylor who was in goal for Barton. Ryan had another chance coming in from the left hand side, he went for the far post and the keeper did well to get a hand on the ball and push it behind for a Saint’s corner.
The resulting corner was sent far to deep into the Barton box and went out of play on the far side of the pitch for a Barton throw. Barton’s Tom Davis committed one too many fouls for the referees liking and was shown the yellow card.
That was it for the first half, Barton winning by the single goal and on the balance of play deserved their lead. Both sets of players stayed out on the pitch and the referee headed back to his dressing room.
Barton were winning at halftime when these two clubs met the last time, I felt the game was not over for the Saints by a long way. In fact it did not take the Saints very long to get back onto level terms. It looked a very harmless ball towards the Barton box from the right hand side, my view was blocked but I believe Connor Luker got a touch on the ball and in went in low at the far post.
In the first game the Barton lads had stopped doing all the good things after the Saints scored and for a short while I feared that might happen again. Saints Matt Reed received some strong words from the referee after tripping Matt Bleakley who did not react well. Both could have been shown the yellow card but Dave sensibly felt a talking to was enough.
Saints went looking for an equaliser and a good ball into the Barton box from the right hand side was met by Sam Winstanley but his effort went wide of the right hand post. The Saints were on top now but Barton were still playing well and I felt the next goal could be the all important one.
A good run down the left saw a Baron shot blocked by the keepers legs and behind for a corner. The ball was fired high into the Saints box and Dejan Maric rose well and headed the ball towards the back post. Zack Norton was there ready to head the ball into the back of the net.
Barton came close to adding even further to their lead when a neat ball played Zack Norton into the Saints box. He turned neatly and got a shot away that Mackenzie Fenton did well to get down to and push the ball around the post for a Barton corner. Barton’s Joe Aldons fancied his chances from 25 yards out but his effort lacked any power to worry the keeper. Barton’s Cairo Broadway also found himself inside the Saints box but his turn and shot also lacked any real power.
Saints then gifted Barton a third goal, a ball close to the corner flag was played back to the Saints keeper. He let the ball run across him but was instantly closed down by Ryan Mcgee who robbed the ball off him. He took it around the keeper and fired the ball home into the empty net.
Game over I thought but I was not expecting what came next. From the restart Billy Reay hit the ball right over Scott Taylor from the halfway line, I think even he was surprised when it went in.
Barton’s tom Davis went on a very good run and entered the Saints box on the right hand side. He tried to go for the far post but Mackenzie Fenton pulled off a fine save.
The referee blew up for fulltime and I am sure the Saints felt they deserved at least a point from this game. Many thanks to Ben kent for all his help along with the Saints manager. Specail thanks to Dave Corderoy I really enjoyed our chat before the game.
Is there any game better than football? I think not.
