Swans cruise to comfortable win over Goole

Barton Town cruised to a comfortable win over relegation-threatened Goole AFC. A rare goal from Josh Lacey opened the scoring before Sam Cable added another on the half-hour mark before Tom Waudby scored a third in the second half. An excellent strike from Jordan Hines pulled one back for the visitors but the result was never in doubt.

The Swans started strongly and after just four minutes Sam Cable, a former Goole player, lashed a shot from distance but it went just wide of the net. But the Swans didn’t have to wait long for the first goal to come.

A free kick from the right was swung in by Will Waudby, and Josh Lacey, captain for the night in the absence of Nathan Hotte, prodded it in at the back post to score just his second goal in 91 appearances for the club.

Barton dominated possession in the first half, and Goole didn’t have an answer for the passing play. Cable had the ball in the back of the net after 20 minutes but the assistant referee deemed him to be offside when the ball was played through.

Cable then played provider as he fed the ball to Tom Waudby who couldn’t quite connect with the strike and it rolled out for a goal kick. However the Swans soon doubled their lead.

The Swans went forward and Cable received the ball and struck it from the edge of the box. His strike was initially saved by the Goole ‘keeper but it bounced off him and rolled into the net for the Swans’ second goal.

There were a few more chances to add to the lead before the break. Tom Waudby attempted an overhead kick which was only just over the bar. Cable had a couple of efforts which he couldn’t get on target but on another night could have gone the right side of the post.

Soon after the break Goole had the ball in the area, an excellent initial save by Ryan Musselwhite was followed up by some good defending from the Swans, but somehow Goole didn’t score when it looked harder to miss.

Moments later they were made to pay when a corner was swung in and Tom Waudby rose highest to head it in. The 17th goal of the season for the Swans’ top scorer this season.

Barton were cruising, but a wonderstrike from Jordan Hines pulled one back for Goole. The winger got the ball on the edge of the box and shot high into the top left corner. No goalkeeper was saving it.

The Swans could have had more when a couple of chances in the box came to nothing, just evading the strikers.

Musselwhite was forced into action again as he denied former Swan Danny Trott from close range.

Barton saw the game out and secured a return to winning ways, a good result and a dominant win against a strong willed Goole side.

“I thought first half we were exceptional. They couldn’t get near us and our passing, movement and general play was so pleasing to watch. It’s a difficult pitch to play on, especially after it’s had machinery on and it’s compacted – it makes it bobbly and from the side you can’t see that. But the way we passed the ball made it seem like a carpet and we did really well. Second half we were a little more tentative and Goole had nothing to lose once we went 3-0 up, credit to their lad though for an unbelievable strike. We had Muzzy to thank for making it as comfortable as it was, he made a few great saves.”

Nathan Jarman