The Easy Buy Stadium, home of Barton Town based in Barton-upon-Humber, North Lincolnshire and play in Step 5 of the non league pyramid in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division. Nicknamed the “Swans” after this club was formed in the White Swan pub I the town! What a story! There was me thinking the founder may have come from a place in South Wales… Me and Match Days Joe have had this one pencilled in for three weeks now! An early relegation battle between them and Athersley Recreation on the day before my 27th Birthday!! Surely it won’t let me down!?
Meeting Match Days Joe can only mean one thing… Train to Doncaster! Here he is and now for the hour drive to Barton. 1 hour later and we are in Barton, not a bad little town! Plenty of pubs about!! £6 to get in here! Genius! A very warm welcome for both of us from the club officials! 15 minute delay to kick off… Not from anyone else mind… 15 minutes later and…
Kick Off! “Swan Army!” A bit of atmosphere from the Barton fans!! 5 minutes in and Barton win a free kick on the edge of the box, Tom Waudby steps up… over! 10 minutes now and Athersley have a throw in on the left, played in, Athersley cross it in, it comes to Jack Briscoe on the volley… OH! Just wide! What a goal that would have been!
1 minute later and Athersley come forward again, it comes to Muhammet Gashi just outside the box, he shoots… He scores! 0-1! Great start for the team at the bottom of the league!
16th minute and Barton’s Curtis Bateson comes down the left side, he twists and turns, he’s brought down… just outside says the Referee! Barton think it’s inside, I thought it was the right decision personally, it’s a free kick to Barton, it’s played in… Straight to an Athersley man and they clear.
19th minute and Athersley don’t deal with the long ball and Tom Waudby gets it For Barton, he’s in the box and he puts it on his right and shoots… Keeper saves! Athersley clear. “Swan army!” They’re still cheering on their team!
27 minutes on the clock and Barton get another free kick in a crossing position, in it comes… Barton try to get there but they can’t and it goes straight out for a goal kick. 38th minute and Barton have another free kick in a crossing position, in it comes… Taron Hare is free… He scores!! It’s 1-1! They’ve deserved that! Poor marking from Athersley there… The Barton fans don’t care one bit! “Swan army!”
40th minute and Athersley give the ball away on halfway, Curtis Bateson drives forward, he gets into the box on the left, he shoots… Brilliant save by the keeper! A first for me and Joe here as the official who greeted us at the gate has just invited us in to the executive lounge! We’re been treated like VIPs!!! How about it! A big thank you to Owen, the community officer here tonight! The score at half time remains 1-1.
Second half, “Swan army!” It’s there once again! 56 minutes now and Athersley lose the ball just outside their own box carelessly, Harrison Coley gets it and drives into the box, he plays it across, Ben Hinchliffe slides in… He doesn’t get there… Goal kick.
2 minutes later and Athersley come down the left, crossed in, Josh Brown at the back stick, plays it across, Connor Johnson is there… He’s scrambled it in! That wasn’t in the script!! 1-2!! Could we be in for a rare win for Athersley here? “We love you Barton! We do! Oh Barton we love you!” The Barton spirit is not broken yet though!
On the hour now and Barton have a free kick again, lumped into the box, Jamie Goddard with the header… Great diving save from the keeper there! 69th minute and Athersley break forward, played across and it comes to Jack Briscoe on the right, he makes space for the shot… Oooooh! just wide! Close! They’re dangerous on the break you have to say! Barton beware here!
71 minutes played and Barton get it forward to the right, crossed in, Ben Hinchliffe brings it down for Tom Waudby to strike… It’s over! 75th minute and Barton have a throw in on the right, played in, crossed in, it’s Ben Hinchliffe in the six yard box… OH! How’s he missed that!!? He’s put it wide… Sitter! You start to think whether it’s going to be Athersley’s night!
It’s all Barton now! Wave after wave of attacks from them. 84 minutes now and it’s a corner for Barton, in it comes… It’s scrambled and it comes to Euan Sterling… OH! What a save! Athersley clear but Barton get it back, they come down the left, crossed in, Tom Davie with the header… It’s bounced in!! 2-2! Athersley couldn’t keep it out and Barton have got the goal they so desired!! The Barton manager certainly loved it!!
The game goes on and Barton continue to press. 89 minutes and they come down the left, crossed in, Barton get to it and it’s played back to the edge of the box for the shot… Wide! Athersley starting to run down the clock now. Barton continue to press but would have to settle for the draw.
FT: Barton Town 2-2 Athersley Recreation
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 4/10 – The Barton fans were fantastic! A great spirit they showed and a very warm club!
- The Ground: 9/10 – A lovely ground! A great club house! A great stand across the middle far side with 2 stands behind the goal! A great view of Humber Bridge in the daytime but also at night with the lights switched on, but they weren’t tonight sadly…
- Expense: 10/10 – £6 for a great game! Thank you!
- Overall Experience: 9.5/10 – I loved tonight! One of the friendliest clubs out there! Meeting the Chairman, Community officer and other club officials who were welcoming and being invited into the executive suite was fantastic! We were treated like VIPs tonight! The game was full of drama and fight and the atmosphere was great too! I just wished Barton had won it at the end…
32.5/40
Great to meet you lads top job your doing
Glad you enjoyed it.
Welcome anytime.
Thank you mate! Good luck for the rest of the season!
Great to have you here, glad we put on an entertaining game. Never a dull match when Barton are playing. The feedback is appreciated on your experience and we hope to see you back for another game; hopefully the weather is much drier too.
All the Best, Owen
Thank you mate! Thank you for your hospitality! Good luck for the season and maybe see you on the road again soon!