Barnstoneworth Step It Up! Stepping... Over the Hill?
The super red and white army marched on to Manchester yet again this Sunday and stepped into 4th gear. Again detoured through Liverpool once again!, Barnstoneworth arrived in high spirits after the usual pre-match journey banter and last weeks draw against Offerton.
After being warned not to give the ref too much grief (who Phil vented the entire contents of his spleen on in the 2nd half) as he was almost as young as our last ref at The Sewerage Works Ground, the match kicked off on pitch 20 at Manchester University's Sports Ground. And to be fair the pitch was much better than MCYA's pitch 6. With Stepping Hill winning the toss play got under way and both sides got stuck in from the off. Possession was fairly equal in the early stages with both teams trying to settle. Stepping Hill had a number of long range opportunities which were easily dealt with by John who comfortably tipped them over the bar, or just stood and watched long range shots go soaring over the top or miles wide. As usual Stepping Hill's play centred around their ex-Rangers Scottish midfielder, but Barnstoneworth had brought with them their own Scott, Robbie the Jock who they unleashed in midfield. He'd been well briefed and new what had to be done... take out the opposing Scott! God knows what the midfield battle would have been like if either had been a Celtic fan! As both teams settled into the game Barnstoneworth started picking up more of the ball in the middle and utilised both wingers which started to open up Stepping Hill, and it wasn't too long before Barnstoneworth pressure paid off. A low driven ball in from Stevie Echo across the box to the far post which Dave Croucher (MOM) just took in his stride and left footed it into the back of the net to take the lead 1-0. Unfortunately the lead wasn't too long lived and 10 mins later Stepping Hill stepped up their game forcing a number of corners which the back four were dealing with quite comfortably, but a rogue one got through. A cross to the far left post which saw a header go across the face of goal and trickle into the bottom right corner for Stepping Hill to level the game. Despite the equaliser Barnstoneworth restarted the game with the determination to finish the 1st half in front and 10 mins before the whistle a great ball through from Dave Croucher put Danny through for a one on one with keeper who slotted the ball in quite comfortably to end the 1st half Barnstoneworth 2 - Stepping Hill 1.
In the 2nd half Barnstoneworth came out with confidence and really started to gel and looked very comfortable on the ball. The back four didn't really have too much to deal with as Barnstoneworth started to dominate the midfield even more and again utilised both wingers to maximum effect, or did Stepping Hill just start to look that little bit more over the hill! The Presidents did have the odd couple of chances in the 2nd half but nothing serious, however Barnstoneworth had plenty and all generated from good pass and move football. Continual pressure and midfield dominance saw an onslaught of crosses from Dave Croucher and Pricey resulting in a barrage of shots at goal, and all on target. Robbo had a perfect goal opportunity and blasted the ball straight at the keeper as did Stevie Echo, Pricey drilled one in from the right which the keeper pushed wide. There was an absolute frenzy of goal mouth opportunities and finally the 3rd goal came. A ball crossed in from Echo from which Stepping Hill's centre half soiled himself quite badly and calmly megged his own keeper, sorry I meant Danny snaffled it off him and burst the ball into the back of Stepping Hill’s net to increase the lead to 3-1. Again straight from the restart Stepping Hill came under further pressure with balls raining in from every angle. Even big Phil was in on the action rising like a majestic salmon from the waters, fins tucked in and head sprung back coiled to unleash the most powerful of all diving headers. Unfortunately the ball and Phil didn’t connect and Phil landed like a heap of shite on the deck, the shock waves from which started a multitude of worldwide Tsunami’s. The 4th and final goal eventually came from a superb defence splitting pass from Stevie Echo through to Danny for another one on one with the keeper who he megged with ease. With the amount of opportunities Barnstoneworth had in the 2nd half the result should have been more like 8-1. But Barnstoneworth really did step it up against Stepping Hill and the match finished a deservedly Barnstoneworth 4 – 1 Stepping Hill.
Another 3 points in the bag and a cushion of 5 points over Grappenhall and Mossley, both of whom have 2 games in hand, but more importantly Barnstoneworth are now 5 points behind Offerton which will be reduced to 2 when we beat them at The Sewerage Works ground! BUFC ‘till we die!
Beer and more fucking chilli (there is only so much a man can take), rice, chips and nan bread were consumed in the Legh Arms after the game and no injuries to report.
