Swans rue missed chances in defeat against Hallam

Barton Town were made to rue missed chances as they fell to a 2-1 loss at home to Hallam, the Swans’ first game in three weeks.

On their return to action the Swans welcomed in-form Hallam. Brett Agnew opened the scoring for the visitors midway through the first half. Sam Cable missed a penalty before half time, and Kieren Watson doubled the lead on the hour mark before Ben Hinchliffe pulled one back.

There was a debut for new signing Joao Rangel, while Fraser Papprill and Grant Tait made their second debuts, having signed in recent weeks. Tom Waudby returned from suspension to take his place on the right.

The Swans were enjoying a lot of early possession, but there weren’t many chances in the early exchanges. With around 20 minutes gone the ball was crossed in from the left, with Tom Waudby rising highest, but his header went just over the bar. A golden chance, which the Swans were made to regret missing soon after.

A Hallam shot in the area was blocked, but the Swans couldn’t quite clear their lines. Brett Agnew snuck in and prodded the ball into the back of the net to give the visitors the lead with their first real chance of the game.

Five minutes before the break Ben Hinchliffe was brought down in the area, with referee Robert Nunn pointing to the spot. Sam Cable stepped up, but he put his penalty wide of the left hand side post. The Swans went in behind at the break on a rainy day by the Humber.

After the break the Swans came out firing, but it was Hallam who had the first big chance of the half. The ball was fizzed across the face of goal and narrowly missed the striker lurking at the back post.

Hinchliffe then had a shot saved before Tom Waudby’s effort was deflected into the goalkeeper’s hands.

On the hour mark Hallam showed their clinical side yet again as Kieren Watson was left unmarked in the area. The ball fell to him and he curled it into the bottom right corner to put the visitors 2-0 up. They then hit the post, as well as Ryan Musselwhite having to make an excellent last ditch save to keep the score at two.

Henry Cook and Will Waudby were introduced off the bench in place of Harrison Coley and Cable, with Waudby proving himself to be a nuisance down the left.

With 20 minutes to go Barton made things interesting. An excellent bit of play resulted in the ball coming to Hinchliffe in the area. He slotted the ball into the bottom right corner with an excellent finish to halve the deficit.

The final moments of the game were all Barton, with the ball headed on into Hinchliffe’s path. He struck at goal on his left foot but put the effort high over the bar, and the final chance to get something out the game went begging.

Only the third defeat in 17 league games, but the Swans fall behind the leading pack.

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