Swans in draw with Frickley Athletic

Barton Town left Frickley Athletic with a draw, thanks to an inspired goalkeeping performance from Harrison Davison-Hale in the home net.

The Frickley ‘keeper pulled off some excellent saves to deny the Swans from taking all three points. Barton edged the first half, but went 1-0 down on the hour mark when Alhassane Keita put the hosts ahead. Substitute Sam Cable scored his fifth Barton goal with a header 15 minutes from time.

It was an unchanged lineup from the side that defeated Hemsworth Miners Welfare last time out. Both sides started the game well, with neither able to get in the ascendency. There were a couple of half chances for either side, with Scott Matthews’ powerful strike from distance the best of the bunch, but it sailed over the bar.

20 minutes in and the Swans have a free kick on the right hand side. Matthews floated it in and the flick on fell to Tom Waudby. His outstretched leg struck the ball towards goal but Davison-Hale in the Frickley goal saved well.

A moment of contention half an hour in when an off the ball incident between Henry Cook and Frickley’s Lloyd Smith saw Cook pushed to the ground. Following a lengthy discussion with his two linesmen, the referee booked Smith, with Ryan Musselwhite receiving a yellow for dissent.

In the first half stoppage time, Matthews floated in another wonderful free kick. It fell to Ben Hinchliffe at the back post who struck at goal. But Davison-Hale again saving it, this time with his legs as it was cleared.

Josh Lacey was introduced at the break with Grant Tait having a calf issue.

Brett Agnew unleashed a powerful shot at goal soon after the break, but it was deflected out for a corner. He was replaced by Sam Cable soon after.

On the hour mark some lovely buildup play from Frickley fed in Alhassane Keita. He scored two goals in the reverse fixture earlier in the season for the hosts, and scored again. His shot low past Musselwhite at his near post.

Musselwhite was then forced into an excellent save to keep the score at 1-0. A free header at the back post was collected by the Swans keeper.

15 minutes from the end Musselwhite played the ball out to Lacey. His pass found Matthews. He steadied himself and swung a long diagonal ball into the area. This found Cable who rose high to head it over Davison-Hale and into the back of the net for his fifth goal in eight Barton appearances.

Five minutes from the end Fraser Papprill found himself in the sin bin and the Swans would end the game with ten men. A frantic final few minutes saw both sides throw everything at it to try and get a winner but nothing came.

Post Match Interview

Trevor Richens interviewed Swans Assistant Manager Danny North after the game.