Swans Reserves win first pre-season friendly

Scotter United	2-3	Barton Town Res
		Crofton 51, 63 Oliver 86

Barton Town Reserves returned to action for the first time since March in their first pre season friendly following the return to the game announcement, as they they travelled to Northmoor Park to take on Scunthorpe & District Saturday league side Scotter United.

It was a game of two halves played in dry, breezy conditions to which allowed both sides to get the most out of the 90 minutes.

#	Name
1	Jack Dunn
2	Bryn Everitt
3	Elliot Sampson
4	Joe Atkinson
5	Clay Bryant (c)
6	Adam Whall 🔻Goluch 45
7	Luke Kershaw
8	Kian Salter
9	Jack Crofton
10	Jack Finnis ⚽⚽
11	Ben Herrick 🔻Oliver 60
12	Thomas Dixon
13	Sam Wood
14	Connah Oliver ⚽ 🔺Herrick 60
15	Daniel Goluch 🔺Whall 45
17	Aaron Finnis

Barton welcomed back some familiar faces within the squad with the prolific Jack Crofton and Jack Finnis both returning after a year’s absence to partner Ben Herrick in a 4,3,3. Welcome back lads!

However the signs of rust were potent when Scotter took an early lead within 5 minutes as a midfield man from Scotter arrived on the edge of the box unmarked to coolly blast home in keeper Dunn’s bottom right corner from the edge of the 18 yard box.

Barton were improving as the minutes ticked over and went close through Crofton, and Whall whose efforts just went over the bar.

Scotter doubled their lead just before the break as James Wainwright played to the whistle when the ball seemingly looked to have gone out of play. He then beat a beleaguered Dunn at his near post to give the hosts a comfortable lead at the break.

With the wind now with The Swans Reserves outfit, a switch in formation and the introduction of Goluch and Oliver for some game time in the legs. Barton were playing some good stuff and went close very early as Scotter keeper Lawson was forced into a reaction save from Crofton’s close effort.

That was a sign of things to come as Finnis, Goluch and Crofton combined to get the Swans a goal in the 51st minute to half the deficit. Crofton eventually volleying home with his left foot inside the box following a good ball from the right from Goluch.

The game was then level in the 63rd minute when Crofton equalised following more neat play in the middle of the park from Bryn Everitt, who played in Jack Finnis whose ball was on the money for Crofton to slot home again.

Dunn was then called into action down the other end as he tipped over from close range to deny the Scotter forward, in a half where Scotter didn’t create much as their legs tiered.

Lawson again keeping Scotter in the game as this time Salter was unlucky as Lawson blocked a powerful effort from 15 yards..

Barton’s pressure finally telling late on in the game as Connah Oliver popped up with his first goal in a Swans shirt in the 86th minute as he arrived late from the left as the ball sat up well on the edge of the area for him to powerfully blast home into the top corner to seal the win.

A pre season game played in the right spirit and a good first workout for the Reserves.

Thanks you to Scotter United for the game and good luck for the season.