Swans put in five-star display to defeat Thackley

Barton Town bounced back from two cup defeats to maintain their excellent league form, putting Thackley to the sword with a 5-0 win at Dennyfield.

Harrison Coley opened the scoring after just two minutes after Tom Waudby set him up. Waudby then teed up Ben Hinchliffe soon after to put Barton two up after 15 minutes. Debutant goalkeeper Ryan Musselwhite made the ultimate first impression by saving a penalty in first half stoppage time.

Taron Hare made it three on the hour mark before a late Tom Waudby brace rounded off an excellent performance from the Swans.

Musselwhite made his debut in goal, with Nathan Hotte and Harrison Coley returning to the starting XI. It was Coley who opened the scoring after just two minutes.

Some fine work from Tom Waudby on the right saw him tee up Coley on the edge of the box. He hit a wonderful first time curling effort into the top corner to put the Swans ahead. Ten minutes later Waudby provided his second assist of the afternoon, this time he sent a low ball across the face of goal. Ben Hinchliffe’s outstretched leg made contact, sending the ball into the bottom corner for his third goal in two games.

Amir Berchil was a strong player for the hosts, and he almost halved the deficit when he curled an effort at goal, which Musselwhite saved well.

After the two goals the Swans sat back, with Thackley enjoying a spell of pressure, but they weren’t able to make anything happen. A cross to the back post almost curled in but thankfully for the Swans, was the wrong side of the post.

The Swans had a couple of chances to make it three. Taron Hare’s long throw into the area found Tom Davie, but his shot was well saved by the Thackley ‘keeper. Hare’s free header from a corner was blocked on the line and cleared.

In first half stoppage time Thackley were awarded a penalty when their striker was wiped out on the byline. Aidan Chippendale stepped up to take it but Musselwhite guessed the right way, saving it and soon after the referee blew for half time.

Ten minutes after the break Hinchliffe was played in one on one, he beat the ‘keeper but his shot was the wrong side of the post. Five minutes later however the Swans got that third goal they’d been chasing.

Hare again was free at the back post when a corner was swung in. He headed it past the ‘keeper and scored his first goal of the season.

With 25 minutes to go a Tom Greaves header hit the bar, the closest Thackley came to scoring all afternoon.

Ten minutes left and A cross from the right was met with a Tom Waudby header. It was just past the ‘keeper and into the back of the net for four. It was Waudby’s tenth goal of the season.

Someone who was yet to get on the scoresheet this season is Henry Parr. Waudby’s cross saw Hinchliffe help it on into the path of the young winger. His shot was well saved by the Thackley ‘keeper and cleared, a goal on the horizon for Parr.

In stoppage time Ben Grech-Brooksbank was played in, unleashing a quality shot which Musselwhite saved well. So determined to keep his clean sheet.

The Swans added a fifth when Tom Waudby drilled a shot low past the ‘keeper into the bottom corner. A couple of Thackley corners at the end giving the home side hope of a consolation goal, but none came, and the Swans recorded another excellent away victory.