Development Squad into cup quarter-final with resounding win

Report by Simon Burnett

After this match was postponed last week we managed to get it on this week. The prize for today’s winner was a home draw in the quarter final of the Lincs FA U18 Cup. Our opponents came all the way from Holbeach, nearly two hours away so we were keen to maximise our home advantage.

Barton started well and controlled the game in the first 15 minutes carving out quite a few good chances between the front 3 but none really testing the Holbeach keeper. Salter and Finley looked lively on the wings but our opponents were playing very deep so plenty of them behind the ball. Our midfield and attacking units looked good in possession but weren’t linking up well with a big gap between them. Peck and Croft compensated though with some excellent forward runs down the wings from full back linking up well with midfield and attackers.

Midway through the first half Rigo and Parker started to get further forward and link up better with the front 3 as Forman sat in behind. Rigo played a smart pass into Finley and then ran through as Finley back heeled a perfect ball into his path before Rigo cut back and hit a nice shot across the goal that the keeper could only get fingers to but not enough to keep it out.

Barton then camped in the oppositions half for the rest of first half with a few Holbeach counter attacks being easily broken up by the defence who have only conceded once all season and that record rarely looked under threat. Half time team talk was easy as apart from not taking more chances they weren’t doing much wrong.

Early in the second half Forman picked the ball up just past the half way line and curved a pin point pass from one side of the pitch through the Holbeach back line into the path of Salter on the wing who beat his man before sliding a perfect ball across the six yard box for Finley to slam the deserved second into the Holbeach net from close range. Soon after, Brandrick’s header rattled the bar from a corner and Barton carved out lots of chances that Holbeach managed to keep out. Burnett had a solid penalty shout waved away by the referee who to be fair was the best all season so no complaints.

Barton controlled the rest of the game and frustrated Holbeach who didn’t give up all game. Croft and Peck had been superb all game with huge shifts running the flanks before giving way for Curtis and Schultz at full back. Both stepped in and protected the clean sheet alongside Kuehn, Brandrick and Hiley who are proving extremely difficult to beat this season in the middle.

Barton continued to press for a third but it didn’t come despite Capp, Hewitt and Osgar bringing fresh legs to the attack and doing really well when they came on. Final score Swans 2-0 Holbeach. Men of the match – Hiley and Brandrick at the heart of our very mean defence. Quarter final is 23rd January v Deeping Rangers at the Easy Buy Stadium.