League Cup winners Handsworth won 1-0 at Barton on Tuesday night
Colin Marrison’s goal earned Handsworth Parramore a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Barton Town Old Boys in the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division on Tuesday night.
It was the visitors who started the brighter with the first chance falling to Steve Warne whose 20 yard shot was parried by the home keeper who recovered to scramble the ball clear from an onrushing Kieran Wells.
Barton hit back and fired wide before a Sam Denton header from a corner was hacked away, then Jon Froggatt fed the dangerous Danny Buttle whose shot was saved at full length by Drury.
The goalkeeper was certainly the centre of attention as he had to be treated by the physio after stubbing his toe whilst clearing and then almost punched a corner into his own goal but was rescued by a goal line clearance.
The Swans then came back into the game very strongly and almost broke the deadlock when Sam Denton headed against his own cross bar. Archie Sneath was then the hero of the hour as he stayed strong to block a Barton attack when exposed one on one shortly before half time.
As the whistle blew, the watching Ambers were generally of the opinion that the game was evenly balanced, with The Ambers having the best of the opening exchanges before Barton dominated the later stages.
Handsworth started the second half strongly with a long range Richard Tootle effort being tipped over by Drury with the resultant corner being met by Denton who headed straight at the keeper. The Ambers continued to push forward and this time got their just rewards when an excellent Simon Harrison cross was met at the far post by skipper Marrison who headed his second goal of the week.
As The Ambers consolidated their position, the ill Jon Froggatt was replaced by Alex Rippon who proceeded to stretch the Barton back four, and with Wells also looking dangerous, the thought was that Handsworth could double their lead. After a Rippon shot was deflected away for a corner, Wells had a close range header saved and his follow up shot smashed against the post before being cleared.
The front pair both went close again as the game headed for full time and whilst Barton continued to press for the equaliser, Sneath was rarely troubled as the back four looked extremely comfortable.
Thanks to Ian Robinson for this report.