Dev Squad in clinical display to defeat Lincoln United U17

Barton Town Development	6-3	Lincoln United Under 17
Finley 15, 65 Burnett 25, 33, 55 Ransford 75

Report by Simon Burnett

After a disappointing exit from the County Cup last week we welcomed Lincoln United U17s to the Easy Buy Stadium in the last 16 of the Steve Asher Memorial Cup.

We learned a lot from last week and addressed the problems in training midweek and decided on a change of formation. We also welcomed new signings Rio Drury and Louie Rodgers to the squad for a double debut.

GK	Oscar Kuehn
DEF	Jake Croft
DEF	Max Brandrick🟡
DEF	Louie Rodgers
DEF	Billy Peck
MID	Jake Forman
MID	Jimmy Hiley
MID	David FInley ⚽⚽
MID	Cole Salter
ATT	Rio Drury
ATT	Seb Burnett ⚽⚽⚽
SUB	Ethan Hewitt
SUB	Will Osgar-Wardley
SUB	Seb Parker
SUB	George Ransford ⚽
SUB	Callum Schultz 🟡

The lads started quick and moved the ball around really well creating a few half chances with all of the ball in the Lincoln half and anything in our half was quick moved forward through the midfield and into attack.

Salter and Finley were both deeper in the formation but were getting forward well and on 15 mins Salter got down the wing and crossed well into the box with the Lincoln defender getting a slight touch clear before Finley snaffled the ball away and slotted home nicely for a deserved 1-0 to the Swans.

Hiley and Forman continued to control midfield in the middle of the park, threading nice balls through for Burnett and Drury up front and on 25 minutes Hiley played a great ball through for Burnett who outpaced the back line to slot home for 2-0 and Swans were cruising.

The back four were confidently playing out from the back and the third Swans goal came from excellent play through the midfield and out to Salter on the right who beat his man well and drilled a dangerous ball in for Burnett to clip the ball over the keeper for his second of the game and a second assist for Salter. We continued to control the game in the first half and went into the dressing room three up and playing some great stuff.

Second Half started and Lincoln came out the stronger in the first five minutes and capitalised on some poor defending to convert the corner and pull one back for 3-1. They understandably had their tails up and had us on the back foot applying lots of pressure and forcing mistakes and forcing an excellent save from Kuehn to keep us two up.

Parker came on for Drury to try and break up Lincoln’s hold and Finley moved up top with Burnett. Against the run of play we broke again with excellent work through the team and Salter put Burnett through down the right who cut in well and blasted his shot into the roof of the net to restore a three goal lead.

Now three ahead with three assists from an excellent Salter and a hat-trick for Burnett. We were now back in control and playing the ball well again when Salter collected the ball and worked it into the box into a crowd of bodies and Finley squeezed the ball through the crowd for 5-1.

A brace for Finley and a massive FOUR assists from Salter. Hiley who had played excellent despite a knock made way for Ransford and the ever versatile Finley dropped back into midfield again alongside Parker in the middle.

Forman pushed out left and started to create lots of chances and dominated the left hand side and Lincoln couldn’t cope with him as he pressed them. A hopeful punt by Lincoln into our box took a deflection of a defender and into the Swans net.

Disappointing for the defence again with Peck, Croft, Rodgers and Brandrick being really solid up until now. Burnett made way for Osgar and Salter for Hewitt to give some fresh legs on and give the patient bench some well earned minutes.

It was the subs who linked up well with Hewitt racing down the right and his cross parried by the keeper under pressure from Osgar into Ransford’s path who slotted it nicely in for 6-2 and his first of the season.

Peck made way for Schultz who got stuck in straight away and managed the right winger well. The game was wide open and Lincoln tried a shot from far out that looped into the net for 6-3. A fantastic result and performance to take us into the quarter finals.