Reserves bottom after LIV Supplies loss

LIV Supplies	4-1	Barton Town Reserves
		Whall 49

The Reserves travelled to Dunswell Park to take on mid table LIV Supplies on Saturday and came away from the game yet again frustrated as LIV Supplies ran out 4-1 winners, a result which means The Reserves are now back bottom of the HPL Premier Division albeit with four games in hand and a point behind.

Manager Liam Graham was again left frustrated by availability issues and had to yet again name a changed side. Michael Broom returned to partner Daniel Goluch up top, with Ross Amner making his debut and Brendan Mcardle coming in as a named Substitute.

#	Player
1	Jack Dunn
2	Bryn Everitt
3	Luke Kershaw
4	Joe Atkinson
5	Clay Bryant
6	Robin Woodforth 🟡
7	Ross Amner 🔻Oliver 46
8	Adam Whall ⚽ 🔻McCardle 75
9	Michael Broom
10	Daniel Goluch
11	Harry Finnis
12	Connah Oliver 🔺Amner 46
13	Sam Wood
14	Thomas Dixon
15	Liam Graham
16	Brendan McCardle 🔺Whall 75

Barton fell behind early on having to cope with a difficult pitch and with bad wind and low sunlight. A long ball was met at the back post after 10 minutes to see LIV take the lead, this after Swans Keeper Dunn had already pulled off a fantastic reflex save earlier. One of a string of fine saves he would make throughout the day.

The Referee was allowing bad challenge after bad challenge to go unpunished and the Swans had thought they had equalised late in the half when Finnis, Broom and Goluch had combined. Goluch got to the goal line to steer the ball goalbound which ran agonisingly all the way across the goal line and back out.

Barton made a change at the start of the second half, Oliver replacing Amner, and Barton had reacted to some tough words and levelled the game on 49 mins when Adam Whall reacted to a second ball to fire home low left in the LIV goal.

However to sum up some awful officiating on the day would be the second LIV goal. From a deep free kick, a LIV player found himself unmarked inside the box to volley home, much to the dismay of the Swans defence who insisted he was in a clear offside position.  The goal coming just five minutes after the Swans equaliser.

Former Swans first team striker Josh Tennant had plenty of chances at the Swans goal but Dunn kept him at bay each and every time with some wonderful saves from point blank.

The Reserves kept pushing on and were caught on the break and a tap in at the back post allowed LIV to extend their lead to 3-1 in the 72’ minute.  The game all but gone, and Barton left feeling dejected and hard done by the Referee and his assistants.

LIV grabbed a 4th late in the game with a wonderful solo run at the defence and deft little chip round the advancing Dunn to the bottom corner to seal the three points for LIV.

Manager Liam Graham spoke afterwards: “It’s another tough defeat to take today, as I didn’t feel like they were that much of a better side than us. We have to cope better in periods of pressure and not keep making mistakes which allow the opposition to create chances.

“I thought the referee and his assistants today were terrible, really really bad performance. He allowed the game to get to the point where challenges were unsafe on an already horrendous playing surface. The second goal is clearly offside, and how he hasn’t seen it is beyond me.

“We worked so hard to get back in the game to then have decisions like that go against you when you’re already in deep trouble in the league is laughable.

“I have to heap praise on my keeper today who I thought was absolutely top top draw.

“Myself and the boys are down at the minute following that, but it’s my job to pick us up and get them ready for top v bottom on Saturday. And hopefully we will be much improved in performance and character.”