Tom Waudby hits century of goals as Swans fall short at Knaresborough

Knaresborough Town	4-3	Barton Town
Stephens 3, 17, 26 Thewlis 48	Att: 77	Coley 15 T. Waudby 87pen, 90

Barton Town fell to a 4-3 defeat to Knaresborough Town at Manse Lane, with Tom Waudby notching his 100th Swans goal in the process.

Lewis Stephens put the hosts ahead after just three minutes, before Harrison Coley equalized. The Swans were level for all of 60 seconds as Stephens notched up his second. Ten minutes later he had his hat-trick with an excellent finish. George Thewlis added a fourth soon after the break, and Knaresborough were cruising. Tom Waudby’s penalty and free kick double in the closing stages reduced the arrears but the damage was done.

#	Player
1	Jordan Douglas
2	Clark Greaves
3	Will Waudby
4	Owen Davey
5	Tom Davie 🔻57′
6	Fraser Papprill
7	Tom Waudby (c) ⚽⚽
8	Iwan Heeley 🔻57′
9	Reece Moody
10	Craig King
11	Harrison Coley ⚽ 🔻57′
14	Henry Cook 🟡🔺57′
15	Matt Clayton 🔺57′
16	Joel Chapman 🔺57′
17	Pete Winn
18	Dave Birch (GK)

New signing Jordan Douglas, signed from North Ferriby, was in goal in one of three changes. Fraser Papprill replaced Josh Smaller and Tom Waudby returned from suspension with Henry Cook dropping to the bench.

After three minutes the Swans had the ball in the back of the net but it was ruled out for offside in the build up. A few moments later the ball was up the other end as some Knaresborough pressure on Douglas and Tom Davie saw the ball out for a throw in. In came a cross and Stephens was left unmarked to head the ball over Douglas and into the back of the net.

The Swans were fighting for the equaliser. Tom Waudby headed the ball into the path of Coley. He burst forward on goal and would have gotten the shot away if not for an excellent last ditch tackle. Moments later Will Waudby swung in a free kick for his brother to head into the back of the net. Only for the linesman to put up his flag again for offside.

The goal did come however, as Davie swung a crossfield ball in, and while the defence were too busy appealing for offside, they didn’t notice Craig King behind them running onto the ball. He played in a low cross which found Coley at the back post. He slotted it in for his 25th Swans goal.

Seconds after kick off Iwan Heeley’s wayward backpass was played into a Knaresborough attacker. Douglas saved his effort but Stephens was at the ready with the rebound to tap into an empty net.

It was three near the half-hour mark when Stephens brought down a ball and struck from all of 30 yards out. The ball looped over Douglas and into the back of the net for his hat-trick, with the Swans shellshocked and looking for a way back into the game before the 30 minute mark.

It was almost four soon after when Danny Edwards broke through and squared it to Stephens, but for the first time he fluffed his marks and slipped as the chance went begging.

Three minutes after half time Knaresborough had a fourth. After failing to clear their lines, Knaresborough intercepted the ball, and a blocked shot fell to George Thewlis who struck first time past Douglas with another good finish. 4-1 down and a mountain to climb.

Try as they might the Swans couldn’t find a way back into the game. There was a glimmer of hope five minutes from time when they were awarded a penalty for handball in the area. Tom Waudby stepped up and put it in the back of the net, but the referee ordered a retake. The Swans captain made no mistake and scored the retaken spot kick to score his 100th Barton Town goal.

Deep in stoppage time the Swans had a free kick 20 yards out. The brothers Waudby stood over it, with Tom striking it over the wall and into the back of the net for his second on the night, but it wasn’t enough for the Swans to avoid defeat.