Swans into next round after Tom Waudby hat-trick caps off big win over Armthorpe

Barton Town’s defence of the NCEL League Cup began in magnificent fashion with a thumping 6-2 win over Division One side Armthorpe Welfare.

Ben Hinchliffe opened the scoring before Tom Waudby added two goals before the break. Chris Spinks and Harrison Coley added to the tally before Waudby sealed his hat-trick shortly before full time. Joe Pugh scored two second half goals for the visitors.

Nathan Jarman made three changes to the side which drew with Winterton at the weekend. Henry Cook, Jack Tanser and Henry Parr started, with Tom Davie, Scott Matthews and Harrison Coley rested. It was Parrs’s first start for the club.

There was a sign of things to come just six minutes in when Tom Waudby dragged a right footed effort just wide of the post. However it was the visitors who almost took the lead early on. Rieves Boocock put an effort wide before Swans ‘keeper Ben Voase was called into action on 12 minutes, pulling off an excellent save to keep the score goalless.

18 minutes in and Taron Hare’s neat bit of skill teed up Will Waudby whose shot went out for a corner. Waudby turned provider as his corner was played to the edge of the box where Ben Hinchliffe was stood. He hit it first time and it curled into the top right corner, an excellent finish and Hinchliffe’s second goal in three games.

Hinchliffe almost added to his tally when Parr played him in on the left side but his shot was the wrong side of the post. Josh Lacey then decided to run it from his own half, beating five Armthorpe defenders before shooting. His shot curled just wide in what would have been a goal of the season contender.

Shortly before the break an excellent passage of play led to Barton’s second goal. Lacey’s diagonal ball was headed back by Hare into the path of Jack Tanser. The midfielder played it to Tom Waudby who shot low from the right side of the box. His shot went in off the post as he added to the Swans’ tally.

Hinchliffe went close again as his shot rattled off the post before Tom Waudby added the third goal before the break. Hinchliffe’s ball over was flicked on by Hare and Waudby did the rest. Shooting low in to the bottom left corner reminiscent of his first goal.

Craig King and Nathan Hotte were brought off at the break with Chris Spinks, returning to the side, and Mitchell Levi-Lewis coming on.

Armthorpe pulled one back when Joe Pugh’s free kick was well saved by Voase and put out for a corner. The resulting set piece was headed in by Pugh to put the visitors on the scoresheet.

On the hour mark it was four for Barton as Spinks picked up the ball 25 yards out, and curled an excellent effort into the top right corner, a cultured finish from the striker.

Kian Salter and Harrison Coley were introduced with Hinchliffe and Henry Cook making way.

15 minutes from the end and Barton had another, the ball was given to Coley on the edge of the box, and he curled a left footed strike into the back of the net in a clinical performance from the Swans attack.

Danny North came on for Josh Lacey, playing centre-half for the final ten minutes.

Armthorpe had another five minutes from time when Pugh was afforded space and shot low into the bottom left corner past Voase.

Barton had the final say however, as moments later North sent over a ball from defence. Tom Waudby controlled it with a beautiful touch and was one on one with the Armthorpe ‘keeper. He shot low and under the goalkeeper to score what was remarkably his first ever Barton Town hat-trick after 184 appearances.

An excellent performance from Barton, and the ideal way to advance to the third round of the League Cup.