Barton off the mark after 3-2 win at Shaw Lane

Dave Anderson had a smile on his face at last as Barton Town Old Boys propelled themselves off the foot of the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division table after finally securing their first win of the league campaign.
Anderson might have looked happy at the end of the game, but he didn’t after a minute when Jimmy Eyles fired Shaw Lane Aquaforce ahead.
Last season’s runners-up Barton, bottom after losing all four of their opening games, appeared to be staring down the barrel of another defeat.
But, Barton fought back with goals from Scott Phillips and Ashley Lattimore.
Shane Kelsey’s audacious free kick dragged Aquaforce level, but, talisman Phillips was the hero for Barton with the winner on the hour.
Kelsey then spurned the chance to rescue Shaw Lane in the closing stages as he blazed a penalty literally out of the ground as Craig Elliott’s men succumbed to their first league defeat of the campaign.
Barton chief Anderson told Non League Yorkshire: “It was absolutely fantastic.
“In the first four games we just didn’t get that bit of luck and credit to the players because we have come here and dug a result out.
“It is terrific and we just hope we can kick on now.
“I wasn’t impressed after a minute as it was a sloppy goal.
“We gave ourselves a mountain to climb, but the lads have stuck in it and although they missed a penalty, I thought we were deserved the three points.
“It took us 15 minutes to get going, but for the last half hour of the first half I thought we were terrific.
“Obviously we conceded a poor second half, but after that I thought we totally dominated and we could have won by more goals.”

Just like Retford United last night, Barton got off to a nightmare start.
Eyles got away from his marker and the prolific frontman kept his composure to score with a low finish.
Anderson raged from the sidelines and his team responded.
Unlike previous league games when Aquaforce have been scoring goals from all angles, Barton restricted the home side to few chances.
Shaw Lane’s performance fell flat and a defensive mistake presented Phillips with the chance to go one-on-one with young goalkeeper Brett Souter.
Phillips scored and the game quickly turned with Lattimore adding the second goal with the help of a deflection which took the ball into the bottom corner.
The second half began in bizarre fashion. The excellent referee Chris Ward kicked off and after 30 seconds realised his assistant referee Colin Unwin on the dugout side was nowhere to be seen.
Pedantic Unwin, who probably wasted more time than Barton during the second half and contributed to the six added minutes himself, was still checking the nets and caused a delay for a number of minutes.
After Unwin declared the nets as acceptable, Shaw Lane quickly restored parity.
From an unlikely position out wide and 30 yards from goal, experienced striker Kelsey whipped a superb free kick into the top corner – a shot Barton goalkeeper Ben White probably did not expect to face.

Shaw Lane’s best period of the second half came straight after the goal and Joe Thornton was close to scoring when his effort hit the side-netting.
But, a defensive mistake cost them another goal with Barton hitting them on the break.
Aquaforce were exposed massively at the back, a rarity for them this season, and Lattimore was able to supply the cross from the right for Phillips to steer the ball home from close range.
Aquaforce were handed a lifeline with 15 minutes. Sam Belcher was deemed to have pushed Kelsey to the ground and referee Ward gave the penalty.
The Barton contingent prayed for a miracle and they got their wish when Kelsey sent his spot kick hurtling towards the moon. The miss summed up Shaw Lane’s night.
Barton comfortably held-on. A mistake from new Aquaforce signing Gareth Clayton, the former Bradford (Park Avenue) and Parkgate left-back, sent Phillips through on goal.
The ex-Bridlington hit-man was unable to complete his hat-trick as Souter made a good save.
The only good news for Shaw Lane was that Heanor Town lost to Maltby Main.
Barton can now look forward in a brighter mood and Anderson can start plotting his side’s accent up the Premier Division table.
Shaw Lane Aquaforce: Souter, Stohrer, Fawcus (Lund 59), Patterson, Holt, Danville, Thornhill, Kelsey, Morris (Clayton 59), Eyles, Thornton. Sub unused: P Haigh, R Haigh.
Barton Town Old Boys: White, Sherwood, Gowens, Belcher, Dexter (captain), Ricketts, Lattimore, Kirk, Phillips (Barlow 80), Sutton (Garth 71), Mortimer (Smith 73).
Referee: Chris Ward
Ref Rating: 9/10
Attendance: 102
Man of the match: Scott Phillips (Barton Town Old Boys)

Craig Elliott’s view can be read tomorrow on Big Match Previews Friday