BLG FC 5 v 3 Denton Wilde Sapte
O.G 5 A.N. Other 11
Eccles 21 A.N.Other 19 (pen)
Hooks 55, 61 A.N.Other 82
Craig 90 + 2
After our narrow defeat to the same opposition the week before, the Barlows men set out for revenge. A scrappy opening period saw little goalmouth action until the Dentons centre half obliged us, giving us a sublime lesson in how to neatly lob your own keeper from 20 yards with the outside of your boot. Terrific finishing, or, as Alan Hansen might say "gret hut".
The goal appeared to settle us down and we then played some of our better football, with the returning Si Lenagan in midfield distributing the ball well and dovetailing nicely with his fellow scouse, Hogey, on the wide left. Indeed the cheeky scouse scamp should have doubled our lead soon after, but, in a moment he'd probably rather forget, he managed to miss everything (the target, the ball, the goal) with a sure tap in beckoning, from only two yards out. Only the fabled lyrics of OMC will do in describing the miss: "how bizarre".
That let off spurred Dentons on, and they then enjoyed their best spell, scoring twice in quick succession. The first was a soft headed goal, conceded against nearly the smallest man on the park, with the second being the now familiar weekly soft spot kick, after the watchful Si Jones had momentarily erred. Harsh. 1-2 down. However, we rallied well and soon forced a free kick circa 30 yards out on the left hand side. A contender for goal of the month then followed. Sensing his opportunity to finally silence his free kick critics, and drive home the point to Stu "William" Wallace that he really is the man to take them, the skipper took no hesitation in drilling home Si's lay off to level the scores.
The period after the break saw Barlows largely dominate Dentons, with a number of corners and free kicks being forced. Despite this, we could not break them down and it took the magic touch of Hooksie to put us back in front. Bringing the ball down expertly, he picked his spot from distance and sent a sweetly struck volley into the far top corner. 3-2. Then, after more good work from the excellent Si Lenagan, he strolled through on goal to increase our lead to 4-2. There was just time left for a scrappy consolation goal for Dentons, before Rich Craig, on debut, rose like a salmon to meet a right wing cross to gloss off a well deserved win.
All in all it was a very solid performance, with all 12 players contributing. Although it wasn't our most accomplished performance ever, it was full of drive, determination and desire. A little bit like Chris Getty on a night out chasing skirt.
Team: Rich "Safe Hands" Bush; Grant "No.2" Conway, Si Jones, Ed "3 in 5 games" Eccles, Chris "Desire" Getty; Andy "How have I missed from there" Hogan (Rich Craig), Greeny, Si "Assists" Lenagan, Dug "Dead" How; Stu Wallace, Hooksie.
