Through suspension Staveley Miners Welfare were without
the services of Captain Matt Varley for the visit of Barton Town Old Boys and
so were forced to make a few changes to the starting line-up. Into the centre
of defence came Alex Pugh and Ash Rawson, back from injury regained his place
in the centre of midfield. Steve Carty moved from there to left back which
meant Charlie Oglesby had to be content with a space on the bench alongside
Kurtis Morley who has re-joined the club following a spell at Mickleover Sports...
...The sunshine made a welcome return following its four
month holiday, and Staveley began brightly too with Courtney Hastings
pressuring the Barton defence into giving away a corner from the right taken by
Adam Scott which was flicked out for another corner on the opposite side by Jordan Cooke
which was eventually cleared by Bradley Ricketts.
That was as close as either side got in an opening ten
minutes where the ball spent most of its time in midfield and even this early
on, the game had the proverbial 0-0 written all over it. That said, it wasn’t a poor game and the
first shot on target wasn’t long in coming…Bartons Gareth Owen, evaded a
challenge from Tom Gambles and took aim from 20 yards but although he forced
Staveleys Nick Siddons to dive to his left to palm out to safety it was a tame
effort and one you’d expect at goalkeeper at this level to keep out.
The quality ramped up a gear and Adam Scott carved out
Staveley first decent opportunity on goal… Chris Baugh found him out wide on
the right and Scott’s cross after beating Jordan Cooke was met by Kieren Watson
but he slipped at the vital moment and couldn’t get the required touch on the
ball hitting it into the ground and over the bar instead.
Steve Carty turned creator next after taking a quick Ash
Rawson freekick from halfway down on his chest he wrapped his left foot around
the ball and sent it into the box where a waiting, untracked Courtney Hastings
seemed to be in two minds whether to head or go for the volley that, he did
attempt in the end but didn’t connect with.
The nearly but not quite theme continued for Staveley
with Adam Scott over near the corner flag showing some neat control to take on
Henry Gil but after showing the left back left then skipping right as he made a
challenge Scotts cutback was gathered by Rob Zand in goal for Barton, and
pretty much the same thing happened just a minute later.
It was by no means “All Staveley” and Barton a side that
are always in and around the top 6 went close when Gareth Owen raced forward
unchallenged from halfway and after his attempt at a pass was unluckily cleared
straight back to him by Alex Pugh he shot towards goal which Nick Siddons saved
with his legs and fortunately Bartons Alex Sherwood fired the rebound over.
and…
…they almost took the lead when a cross swung in from the
right by Ashley Lattimore was flicked on by Gareth Barlow and headed onto the
crossbar by Jake Vernon.
HT Staveley MW 0 – 0 Barton Town Old Boys
The first half had been one of those decent 0-0s that you
get sometimes and the second half continued in the same way and as it drew on
it became increasingly likely that one goal would be enough to win it…
…unfortunately it was Barton that got that breakthrough
on the hour mark when Gareth Barlow held off the challenge from Richard Mintoft
and passed to Gareth Owen who ran into the box and poked it into the bottom
right of Nick Siddons goal.
Staveley MW 0 – 1 Barton Town Old Boys
Staveley had not deserved to be behind and whilst there
wasn’t any need to panic they sensed the need to change it up a bit and threw
on Kurtis Morley in place of Ash Rawson who had picked up a knock. The change
resulted in a more attack minded home side and Morley proved to be pivotal in
their revival…
…A neat turn on half way gave him the space and time to
pick out a run from Kieren Watson but the normally lethal marksman got his
angles all wrong and fired over as Rob Zand came out to narrow Watsons view of
the net.
Not to worry though as Staveley were soon level though a
well worked chance down the left involving Jamie Brown knocking the ball back
to Steve Carty from his throw-in. Carty then found Kurtis Morley just on the
edge of the area with his back to goal who again returned the ball back to
Carty before spinning his marker and collected a first time flick from Kieren
Watson who had collected yet another ball from Carty, Morley was adjudged to
have been fouled just as he was about to pull the trigger and the referee
awarded the Trojans a penalty.
Now, penalties have been a bit of a problem recently with
two missed in the recent Tadcaster Albion game and Adam Scott became the third
man in as many penalties to miss from twelve yards but fortunately Rob Zands
save fell kindly to Scott who completed the simple task of tapping the rebound
over the line in the 78th minute.
Staveley MW 1 – 1 Barton Town Old Boys
Just four minutes later Kurtis Morley brought down a
goalkick on halfway and fed Dan Fletcher who had replaced Courtney Hastings
earlier, he returned the favour to Morley who strode forward and planted a 25 yarder into the bottom corner.
Staveley MW 2 – 1 Barton Town Old Boys
Unfortunately despite having one more very good chance to
go 3-1 up, with Rob Zand saving from Adam Scott following a flowing counter
attack involving Jamie Brown and Kieren Watson Staveley had to settle for the
point they would’ve taken after an hour as Bradley Ricketts scored from the
penalty spot in the dying seconds of the match.
FT: Staveley MW 2 – 2 Barton Town Old Boys
