Swans bounce back in win over Penistone Church

Barton Town returned to winning ways with a 3-1 win over ten-man Penistone Church at the Easy Buy Stadium in a match overshadowed by a nasty injury to Kieran Ryan.

The visitors were down to ten when goalkeeper Harry Ambler was sent off for upending Ben Hinchliffe in the first half. It took 52 minutes for the Swans to score with a Ryan Johnson own goal. Two penalties in five minutes sealed the win with Chris Spinks converting one and tapping in a rebound when Wayne Hughes saved his second spot kick.

Penistone player Ryan landed awkwardly on his back and had to be stretchered off and taken to hospital after the game. The visitors were awarded a penalty when goalkeeper Ben Voase brought down a Penistone player. Nathan Keightley scored the spot kick.

There were four changes to the side which lost to Knaresborough last week. Tom Davie was suspended and Craig King injured, they were replaced by Henry Cook and Jack Tanser. Harrison Coley and Will Waudby were dropped to the bench with Chris Spinks coming in as well as a first league start for Henry Parr.

The opening proceedings were end to end but little in the way of action with both sets of defenders cancelling out the attacks. It took until midway through the half to see the first piece of action, a red card.

Ben Hinchliffe was played in on goal after an excellent lobbed through ball. As he closed in on goal Penistone ‘keeper Harry Ambler came rushing out and wiped out Hinchliffe, body checking him and bringing him down. Referee Matthew Oakley sent off the goalkeeper after discussions with his assistant linesman. Penistone defender Wayne Hughes went in goal with Scott Matthews put the resulting free kick just over.

It was goalless at the break with neither side able to find a breakthrough in a half devoid of much attacking chances.

Penistone almost scored instantly after the break with Jordan Coduri dragging his shot just wide of the net.

Seven minutes into the half the Swans took the lead. Spinks fired in a free kick from the right which was headed by defender Ryan Johnson into his own net. A fortuitous way to take the lead but the Swans were ahead.

Two minutes later Barton had a penalty. Hinchliffe with some hard work on the left saw him burst into the area before being wiped out by the Penistone defender. Up stepped Spinks to slot in the resulting penalty and put Barton two ahead.

Moments later there was almost a third when Spinks’ free kick was flicked on by Nathan Hotte to Hinchliffe who was waiting at the back post. However his first time shot went into the side netting. A third goal did come however.

Just after the hour mark Tom Waudby’s cross was deemed to have been handled in the area by a Penistone player, another spot kick for the Swans. Spinks again stepped up but Hughes pulled off an excellent save before Spinks tapped in the rebound for three-nil.

Jack Tanser almost scored a fourth when he took a touch on the edge of the box and volleyed, but Hughes again pulling off a good save to deny the Swans midfielder.

25 minutes to go and the game was paused when Kieran Ryan landed awkwardly and went down. He was stretchered off the pitch and taken to hospital. He suffered severe bruising and inflammation around the sciatic nerve, but thankfully no broken bones or any dislocation.

Shortly before the end of the game Tom Waudby went on a marauding run across the face of goal, he turned the defender but his shot was saved by Hughes.

In stoppage time Penistone had a penalty of their own when Ben Voase brought down their attacker, being booked in the process. Nathan Keightley, who had scored in stoppage time in this fixture last season, scoring the spot kick to put Penistone on the scoresheet.

A forgettable game on the pitch, which the Swans took home the points, and with our best wishes going to Kieran Ryan in his recovery.