Swans fall to defeat at Emley

Barton Town were powerless to resist promotion-chasing Emley AFC at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground.

An even first half saw Paul Walker break the deadlock soon before half time, before Jacob Kelly doubled the lead with the last kick of the half. Emley captain Rikki Paylor added a third for the hosts to seal a comfortable win.

The Swans were almost a goal down after ten seconds, when Tom Davie was caught napping in our area and the ball stolen from him. The resulting shot was well saved by Ryan Musselwhite to keep the hosts out.

In a largely even first half, Emley were constantly threatening, the Pewits hit on the break, and Will Waudby pulled off an excellent last-ditch tackle to put the ball out for a corner and keep the game scoreless.

Barton’s best chance of the half came when Craig King went on a marauding run down the left, before crossing to the back post. Tom Waudby rose high but a slight deflection before it found him meant he headed just wide.

Midway through the half and Will Waudby again being the defensive hero for the Swans, pulling off a fantastic block as Emley were starting to turn the screw.

They got their reward ten minutes before the break. After the ball wasn’t cleared by the Swans, it fell to Paul Walker in the area. He slotted it past Musselwhite to put Emley ahead. The hosts chasing down Winterton Rangers for second place and the all-important play-off spot.

The killer blow for the Swans came on the stroke of half time. Tom Davie went for the ball but Emley substitute Jacob Kelly picked his pocket, stealing the ball to go two on one with the Swans. A neat one two saw Kelly lash it into the top corner. An excellent finish and put to bed the chance of the Swans getting anything from the game.

The Swans came out fighting in the second half to try and get back into it but Emley’s third goal came on the hour mark. A corner in was parried by Musselwhite but it fell into the path of Rikki Paylor. He tapped it in to seal the win for Emley.

Barton kept fighting, and had the better of the action in the last half an hour. Tom Waudby struck the crossbar with an excellent strike.

It was then Will Waudby’s turn to have a shot on goal. He burst forward from midfield, before his shot went over the bar.

He then fed Ben Hinchliffe the ball with ten minutes to go, but the striker’s effort went just wide.

In stoppage time Kian Salter played in an excellent cross to Tom Waudby waiting in the area. He headed towards goal but it curled the wrong side of the post and out for a goal kick.

The referee blew for full time, with Emley in buoyant mood with the win and Winterton losing, meaning the play-off chance was in their hands.