Swans and Rangers play out 3-3 draw at Haworth Park
19th August 2020| Hall Road Rangers | 3-3 | Barton Town |
| Findley 74, 77, 87 | Tait 20, Batty pen 45, Anderson 79 |
Barton Town and Hall Road Rangers played out a 3-3 draw in drizzly conditions at Haworth Park.
The Swans had a 2-0 lead at the break thanks to goals from Grant Tait and Josh Batty. Hall Road clawed their way back into the game thanks to a brace from Callum Findley. Luke Anderson restored the Swans lead before Findley sealed his hat-trick after a Swans penalty appeal was turned down.
Ben Hinchliffe and Noel Burdett both had good efforts to open the scoring but neither could get enough on the ball to beat the ‘keeper.
20 minutes in and some nice play from Robbie Start on the wing saw him cross into the area. Tait picked the ball up, took a touch and smashed it past the ‘keeper to open the scoring.
Hall Road had their chances in the first half but the Swans were arguably on top. A further chance from Batty was followed by Burdett narrowly missing. He broke clear and his effort trickled past the post.
On the stroke of half time Hinchliffe ran into the area and was brought down, the referee pointed to the spot. Batty stepped up and slotted the penalty home as the half time whistle blew with Barton two goals up.
A host of changes in the second half saw a different Swans side. Scott Matthews, playing at left wing back, had a surging run and almost teed up Anderson, but he couldn’t connect with the ball and the chance went begging.
Hall Road grew into the game in the second half, and on 63 minutes their number nine almost scored, but for the Swans ‘keeper pulling off a brilliant save with his leg.
With 15 minutes left Findley scored his first, a fantastic lob over our ‘keeper and three minutes later he had his second. A nice shot went low past the ‘keeper and Hall Road were level, as Barton had been caught out in possession a couple of times.
Moments later a fantastic run from Matthews was followed by a cross with Anderson meeting it at the back post and heading it in to restore Barton’s lead.
With just three minutes left Ryan Caulfield ran onto a loose ball and looked certain. He was brought down in the area with the defender making no intention to get the ball. The referee waved away the penalty claims and Hall Road broke and Findley managed to get his hat-trick with a composed finish.
Swans Team: Trialist, Lacey, Start, Plummer, Fisher, Wheeldon, Burdett, Disley, Batty, Hinchliffe, Tait
Subs: Matthews, Millson, Baker, Caulfield, Trialist, Anderson