Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Hemsworth Miners Welfare 1-1 Barton Town
Barton Town’s super stopper Mikey Emery pulled off two point-blank saves to deny Hemsworth Miners Welfare in the latter stages of the stalemate.
Emery heroically denied substitute Connor Brunt and then Wells stalwart Adam Wilson to ensure Nathan Jarman picked up his first point as Barton manager.
No-one could say Barton did not deserve their point either.
Both sides were evenly-matched and the visitors had fought back through Ben Hinchliffe’s volley after conceding in the first half to Jay Davis’ strike.
A draw was certainly a fair result.
From Hemsworth’s perspective it was a positive result after the disappointing FA Cup defeat at Redcar Athletic – especially with them missing key men Harry Viggars and player/manager Luke Danville whose large fan-club were emotionally gutted to see him not lining up for the Wells.
Hemsworth hit the front-foot early on in a fairly nondescript first half.
Ex-Campion and Garforth Town man Davis found the side-netting with one chance and then Tom Cadzow missed a sitter with a close range header from a corner.
The 39th minute deadlock breaker was against the run of play but it was brilliantly taken.
A magnificent cross-field ball from ex-Athersley Rec man Kane Swinburn was matched by the fine control from Davis.
The touch took him away from the chasing defender and the playmaker fired low and hard past Emery from the right-hand-side of the penalty area.
Barton’s equaliser with 20 minutes left on the clock had been coming.
The visitors had been building pressure and Hinchliffe produced a memorable low volley to equalise and score the first league goal of Jarman’s reign.
Former North Ferriby striker Jarman and his assistant Danny North then threw themselves on across the next 13 minutes of the the action to add a bit of muscle to Barton’s attack.
Barton did have chances to nick all three points but the most notable opportunities were at the other end.
Barton failed to clear a corner in the preamble to Brunt’s header and the ball was crossed back in towards the far post.
Cadzow leapt like a salmon to head it across the six-yard-box where an unmarked Brunt was waiting.
Unfortunately for the Wells, whilst he got the header on target, there was not enough power on it and Emery dived to palm it away from danger.
The Wells were more unlucky with Wilson’s chance.
Barton’s defence were all at sea for the first time as Hemsworth penetrated them pace and power.
Wilson managed to turn two defenders in the six-yard-box and shoot for gold.
Emery stood firm and blocked the goal-bound effort with his legs.
The only criticism of Wilson was maybe if he had gone for placement rather than power then he would have walked off as the hero.
That was the last real chance of the encounter.
The Teams
Hemsworth Miners Welfare: Womack, Dawson, Jeff (captain), Tingle, Cadzow, Higgins, Davis (Fernando 73), Wilson, Swaine, Walker (Brunt 56), Swinburn. Subs unused: O’Brien, Taylor, Brackenbury.
Barton Town: Emery, Tait, Matthews, Baker, Hare, Davie, Burdett (Jarman 82), Simpson (North 69), Hinchliffe, Colley, Varley. Subs unused: Lacey, Hemingway.
Who Was In Charge
Conor Ledgeway (7/10)
How Many Were There
138
Man of the Match
Mikey Emery (Barton Town)