Swans pick up three points at Eccleshill
21st October 2020| Eccleshill United | 1-2 | Barton Town |
| Irving 81 | Att: 126 | Batty 14, Varley 44 |
Barton Town picked up another three points with a battling 2-1 win over Eccleshill United.
First half goals from Josh Batty and Jack Varley were enough to see off the challenge of Eccleshill. Jon Irving scored for the hosts to make it a nervy final ten minutes but the Swans were good value for the win.
| # | Player |
| 1 | Charlie Dixon |
| 2 | Matt Plummer |
| 3 | Scott Matthews |
| 4 | Chaz Fisher |
| 5 | Taron Hare (c) |
| 6 | Josh Lacey ⭐ |
| 7 | Jack Varley ⚽ |
| 8 | Craig Disley |
| 9 | Josh Batty ⚽ 🔻Anderson 68 |
| 10 | Ben Hinchliffe 🔻Tait 88 |
| 11 | Robbie Start 🟡 🔻Mortimer 88 |
| 12 | Kieran Mortimer 🔺Start 88 |
| 14 | Luke Anderson 🔺Batty 68 |
| 15 | Grant Tait 🔺Hinchliffe 88 |
The Swans started out as the stronger side, with plenty of half chances, but it was the hosts who grew into the game and forced a fine double save out of Charlie Dixon on 12 minutes.
Two minutes later the Swans made their early dominance pay as a cross field ball intended for Scott Matthews fell into the path of Josh Batty. The striker ran in and rounded the ‘keeper before tapping the ball into an open net for his fifth goal of the season.
As with Bottesford on Saturday, the goal appeared to spur Eccleshill on and they ended the half the stronger side. The Swans had a couple of chances through Batty and Jack Varley to double the lead but Eccleshill held firm.
The hosts were denied as Dixon had another strong game in the Swans goal. He stopped two very well taken shots with two brilliant saves to keep the Swans ahead.
Barton were then two ahead by the break as Craig Disley slid in and won the ball, playing it to the feet of Jack Varley. He shoots a low driven effort from around 25 yards out and the ball went in off the post to double the Swans’ lead.
It was almost three after the break as Matthews played it in to Batty. He made space in the area and his shot cannoned off the crossbar and out.
Barton had a much stronger second half, with plenty of chances coming our way, but the Swans nearly fell into the same trap Eccleshill did in the first half.
Hinchliffe almost capitalized on a miskick from the Eccleshill ‘keeper but his shot was blocked. The rebound fell to substitute Luke Anderson, but he couldn’t get his effort on target.
Eccleshill were threatening, but the Swans were defending well. They pulled a goal back when a corner was swung in and Irving rose highest to head it in.
While it set up a nervy finish for Barton, the defence held strong and cleared every ball that came into the area, and held on for another three points.