Post by Dave on Sept 25, 2021 9:16:09 GMT
Match Referee Mark Solway
Final Score Barton Athletic 1 Ivybridge Town 2nd 7
Match Preview
After checking all the fixtures being played in South Devon today, I decided to stick with the South Devon League again as this fixture was being played right on my doorstep, well within walking distance to be more accurate.
The Paignton Community Collage 3G pitch was at one time the home pitch of Roseland’s and a good number of years ago, I covered a number of their games there.
The last Barton Athletic game I covered was way back on the 22nd November 2014 when they were playing in division five of the South Devon league. That day they were at home at Barton Downs against Moretonhampstead, a game they won convincingly by six goals to three.
Darren Bastow played for Moretonhampstead, but at the end of the day Barton were simply the much better side. My final remark on that match report was “Barton will I’m sure rise up through the divisions as they are a good club that is very run very well”.
davesworld.proboards.com/thread/429/sdfl-barton-athletic-moretonhampstead-22nd
Seven years on and I find Barton Athletic are now playing in the Premier League of the SDFL but looking at their opening results of the 2021/2022 season, they have not made a very good start, loosing all three of the matches they have played so far.
In their opening game, Barton were beaten by six goals to nil at home against East Allington United 1st. Their second defeat was also at home against Watts Blake Bearne 1st, they lost this game by three goals to four against a team so far unbeaten this season and currently sitting in their place in the table.
I do not know what happened last weekend when Barton Athletic travelled to the Duck Pond to take on Buckfastleigh Rangers 1st. They lost by ten goals to nil, Buckfastleigh Rangers 1st have won all four of their opening games scoring a total of twenty two goals and have only conceded just one goal, so it is not a surprise they are the current league leaders.
Ivybridge Town 2nd have also not had the best of starts to this new season, but at least they have been able to get one point on the board. They lost their first game at home against Buckfastleigh Rangers 1st by three goals to one.
Their second match was an away game against Newton Abbot 66 1st, they lost this game by six goals to two. Last weekend they faced Salcombe Town 1st away and did very well to come away with a very well earned point after the match finished in a one all draw.
While Ivybridge will want to improve on last weeks performance, Barton will see this match as a good chance to get their first points of the season. Hard game to call, but I am sure it will be an entertaining match to watch.
Match Report
If anyone is wondering why Barton Athletic are playing their home games on the Paignton Community Collage 3G pitch, it is because once again the Acorn Centre decided they no longer wanted the club to use their dressing rooms.
The 3G surface has a slightly bouncing feeling when you walk on it and today it nearly looked as black as it did green with all the rubber pellets showing through it.
I would firstly like to thank the match referee and both clubs for filling in the team sheet with the correct player’s names and the warm welcome I received.
Barton are made up of a number of young players who must have found recent results very hard to swallow, but there are enough good players in the side to eventually turn their season around.
The match referee got the game underway and Barton started the half in a very determined fashion. They took early control of the game and looked the most likely team to open up the scoring.
Barton’s Dominic O’Brian had the first shot on goal with a long range effort that went wide of the right hand post. Reece Shaw wearing the Barton number nine shirt, also hit a good shot goal ward that also went wide of the post.
Barton then took an early lead that their efforts deserved, Reece Shaw was near the corner flag and it looked like he had nowhere to go with a player close in attendance to him. He dragged the ball one way and then the other, got past his man and raced into the Ivybridge box and fired a powerful shot across the keeper into the back of the net.
At this stage I was wondering how the Barton team had been on such a hiding last weekend, they were good going forward and looked like they had more goals in them.
They had a good chance to add to their lead when they won a free kick on the edge of the Ivybridge box. Reece Shaw took the free kick but his shot was always rising and sailed over the top of the crossbar.
On the break Ivybridge looked dangerous, Alex Henniker wearing the number ten shirt was played clear in on goal from a good through ball, but he tried to walk the ball into the back of the net and got far to close to Matty Leighton in goal for Barton who was able to block the shot with his foot.
It did not take Ivybridge long to get back onto level terms; Alex Henniker went on a good run into the left hand side of the Barton box and fired a low shot into the far right hand corner of the goal.
Alex had another good chance to take the lead for his side when a ball was played into in from the right hand side of the pitch by Tom Pelling, he turned neatly on the edge of the box but miss hit his shot that ended up going harmlessly past the left hand post.
The game turned in Ivybridge favour when Alex Henniker was brought down in the Barton box, match referee Mark Solway pointed instantly to the spot. Ryan McNaught took the spot kick sending the keeper the wrong way.
The goal clearly had a negative effect of the Barton players as just one minute later they fell even further behind. Ryan McNaught scored the goal of the match when he ran into the left hand side of the Barton box and sent a great shot across the keeper high into the right hand corner of the goal.
That was it for the first half, after plenty of effort and taking the lead in the match, Barton faced an uphill battle in the second half.
Ivybridge started the second half very strongly, Ryan McNaught maybe should have put his side even further in front when he looked certain to score, but credit must go to Matty Leighton for preventing him from doing so.
It was mostly one way traffic now and Barton were struggling to mount any serious attempts on the Ivybridge goal.
Ryan McNaught got the forth goal for Ivybridge, a close range effort close to the left hand post. Substitute Sam Stevens came close to scoring following an Ivybridge corner, but his header flew over the crossbar.
But he soon put that right after a shot from outside the Barton box was well palmed down by the Barton keeper, but the loose ball fell to Sam Stevens to fire home.
Ivybridge then made it six goals to one when a low ball was played into the Barton box and hit first time into the back of the net by Ryan McNaught.
To rub salt into the Barton players wounds, Ivybridge scored again with a shot from the edge of the box, Ryan McNaught could have made it even worse when he tried to chip the keeper with his effort hitting the crossbar.
Ivybridge were deserved winners, but it looked like a number of their players might have played at a higher level. Barton can be proud of all the hard work and effort they put into the game, I am sure their first win is not that far away.
