Brad Ricketts’ superb strike puts Barton Town Old Boys in front against Garforth Town. Picture: Steve Hope
Barton Town Old Boys and Garforth Town shared the points in a scrappy affair that ended in a 1-1 draw at the Euronics Ground yesterday.
The draw is a major dent in the home side’s hopes of finishing in the top six of the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division.
The home side went into the fixture wasting little time in testing the water. Prolific goalscorer Scott Phillips hit a sweet volley on the turn in the first minute, but his effort whistled over the bar.
Moments later Danny Norton was brought down and seemed as if he were in the area, but referee Jan Suchecky gave Barton a free-kick on the edge of the area as Garforth luckily escaped.
Ashley Lattimore saw an effort narrowly wide and captain Ashley Dexter saw a header cleared off the line by Tim Robertson as Barton began to assert their dominance in the first half.
In an eventful five minutes for the home side, Danny Norton and Scott Phillips were denied by goalkeeper Ben Hunter. Then in the 19th minute, Scott Phillips looked certain to score but Hunter was on hand once again to deny the home side from opening the scoring.
It took the visitors 20 minutes to eventually find their feet. A free-kick from shooting distance was drilled in by Luke Mangham which Barton goalkeeper Rick Watson saw it late, but got down low quick enough to prevent his side going a goal down against the run of play.
Action from Barton Town Old Boys 1-1 Garforth Town. Picture: Steve Hope
Nick Black equalises for Garforth. Picture: Steve Hope
Barton survive a late Garforth chance. Picture: Steve Hope
Scott Phillips celebrates scoring for Barton, but his late strike was ruled out for offside. Picture: Steve Hope
The home side regained their dominance and in the 41st minute their persistent effort paid off as Brad Ricketts’ superb opener on the volley put The Swans a goal up going into half time.
After a slow start to the second-half, the first real chance of the half feel to the visitors on the hour mark.
A ball into the box by Spencer Lund was almost turned in by Nick Black, but Barton held on to their lead.
Minutes later the home side almost doubled their lead. Chris Gowen’s cross almost caught out Hunter with a little help from the wind, but the Garforth number one sprinted back to turn the ball over the bar.
But the visitors clawed back level on the 70th minute with substitute striker Nick Black heading home a corner to put Graham Nicholas’s men level at 1-1.The game came to life in the final 10 minutes, as both sides push for a winner.
Scott Phillips almost restored the home sides lead, but he couldn’t quite control his volley in the area, much to the despair of the crowd.
Moments later Barton had the ball in the back of the net as Phillips’ clean finish seemed to add to his already impressive tally this season, only to be ruled offside.
Garforth had two major chances to win the game late on which both fell to Spencer Lund, who couldn’t quite connect on both occasions and two golden opportunities to return back to West Yorkshire with three points went begging.
Barton Town Old Boys manager Dave Anderson:
“Garforth never created anything we came in at half time 1-0 and they never broke us down in open play.
“Then it’s something we pride ourselves on, but one of the centre halves has not tracked a runner and it’s gone in the back of the net for the equaliser.
“It was a very poor game on difficult conditions. Wednesday took a lot out of us and we’re just all very disappointed.
“We said at half-time it wasn’t going to be pretty and the conditions didn’t lend themselves to good football and the pitch was rock hard.
“It was very windy and it had 1-0 written all over it and we’re just very disappointed really.”
Garforth Town manager Graham Nicholas:
“In recent games confidence hasn’t been too high a present but we’ve come here on difficult conditions and we’ve worked hard and the second half performance gave a good account for ourselves. For me we got a point we deserved.
“We took the game to them and I think the wind played a huge factor in that.
“We knew we’d have the wind second half so we took it to them.
“We were adventurous, we went 4-4-2, and we looked to be playing much better, but like I say we just missed a few chances at the end. But I’m pleased with a point overall.”
Barton Town Old Boys: Watson, McKay (Gill 76), Mortimer (Owen 76), Belcher, Dexter, Ricketts, Norton (Gowen 61), Kirk, Phillips, Chambers, Lattimore.
Garforth Town: Hunter, Hawksworth, Robertson, Smith (Oyebanji 63), Alali, McCarthy, Rupere, Lund, Simpson (Black 55), Harris (Royles 46), Mangham.
Referee: Jan Suchecki (North Yorkshire)
Attendance: 134
Man of the Match: Ashley Lattimore (Barton Town Old Boys)