Under 18’s win again in narrow cup victory over Healing Hotspurs

Report by Simon Burnett, Photos by Aaron Irwin

A solitary goal from David Finley was enough to secure a win for ten-man Barton Town Development over higher league opposition in Healing Hotspurs.

The second game in the Andrew Bandelow cup which is a Champions League format, with small groups in the qualifying round. Healing Hotspurs were our opponents and we knew they would be tough as they are in the league above us and beat us in preseason so a great challenge for the lads and a chance for revenge.

First half was tight with both teams showing good defensive quality but it felt like Barton midfield edged it in the middle of the park. Jake Forman looking good on the ball and well flanked by Alfie Rigo and Seb Parker. Felt like we carved out slightly more chances but none really clear cut with good build up play and then the final pass letting us down but headed into half time even which probably felt fair on balance.

We looked more threatening overall with some good runs by the front three. Seb Burnett made way for Cole Salter towards the end of the first half to mix things up going forward. The back five looked very comfortable with Max Brandrick and Jimmy Hiley dealing with everything down the middle and Billy Peck and Jake Croft dealing well with anything Healing put down the wings which they seemed to want to do.

A lot went down their right wing so Croft was very busy but dealt with their right winger with aplomb earning him MOTM as he dealt with everything thrown at him. Burnett came back on at half for Jamahl Palfreyman who had done excellent out of position again. Second half kicked off and both teams looked to have renewed focus but after a few minutes some great play by Parker and he somehow managed to squeeze the ball through the resolute Healing defence for Finley to smash it home from 16 yards to finally break the deadlock.

Barton continued to have the upper hand but only one goal up it was all to play for. On the hour an awful and very late challenge from Healing on Rigo, who had played very well in midfield, led to a squaring off between the two players and a red card for Rigo that no one could understand and the Healing player just a yellow.

We rejigged the formation a little bit to cover one less man and set about managing the game out with Finley dropping back to midfield. Everyone stepped their work rate up another 10% but Healing began to carve out a few more chances inevitably with one extra player but the Swans defence were determined to carve out another clean sheet after only letting in one all season. They did a great job but Healing managed to penetrate and get through for a one on one with Kuehn who spread himself superbly to block the shot out for a corner.

After that he dealt with everything else comfortably and slowed the game down too when needed. Ethan Hewitt came on for last 10 minutes for fresh legs up front. Barton managed the game out superbly well to keep it at 1-0, still unbeaten this season and another clean sheet all in front of great turn out from the swan army on a very cold Sunday.