Swans in excellent display in win at Hallam

Barton Town commemorated their first ever trip to Hallam by putting in an excellent performance, securing a 2-0 win in front of a healthy crowd at Sandygate.

The Swans had never been to the oldest ground in football before, and made the first trip a memorable one, with a resolute defensive display and two goals courtesy of Tom Davie and Scott Matthews sealing three points.

The first action of a frenetic game came after just five minutes when Tom Waudby poked the ball past the keeper, but was brought down by the Hallam defender. The referee waved play on much to the dismay of the travelling support.

The whole game was end to end, with both sides exchanging chances. Craig King went close before Liam Royles dragged his shot wide of the post. Seconds later Jack Tanser hit a sweet volley just wide.

After just 12 minutes Julian Lawrence’s header from a corner was cleared off the line by the Swans. Danny Deakins then went close as he was in one on one with Charlie Dixon, with the Barton ‘keeper pulling off an excellent save to deny the hosts.

Josh Lacey and Will Waudby both had excellent chances to score but both shots were wide of the mark and just over the bar.

Towards the end of the half it was Hallam that were piling on the pressure, but the Swans defence held firm to deny them. There was one more chance in an action-packed first half and it was Barton’s as Ben Hinchliffe dispossessed ex-Swan Chris Salt. He ran in but the goalkeeper pulled off a good save to keep the score goalless at the break.

Seconds after the restart Hallam had the ball in the back of the net but it was thankfully ruled out for offside.

The second half was much like the first, with end to end action. On the hour mark Brandon Bradbury received the ball from 40 yards out and tried to lob Dixon. The shot wasn’t too high over the bar.

20 minutes before the end came arguably the most controversial moment as Tom Waudby slid in on a Hallam player. The referee handed out a yellow card and a large majority of the crowd were aggrieved with the decision, expecting a red card.

Soon after the Swans won a corner, which Josh Lacey flicked on into the path of Tom Davie, who put the ball in the back of the net to put the Swans ahead. Seconds after Royles had another effort for Hallam but it ended up in the side netting.

Dixon then pulled off another good save. A strong shot was parried away by the Swans ‘keeper, determined to keep his fifth clean sheet of the season.

With just ten minutes to go Barton needed another goal to kill the game off, and when the Swans won a free kick on the right flank, they got what they wanted. Scott Matthews swung in a left footed freekick which went in at the back post, reminiscent of his goal last week at Hemsworth.

The game ended 2-0 and the Swans had put in an excellent performance, with resolute defending and some attacking prowess throughout the whole side to pick up a big three points at an incredibly hard place to go.