|
Each week we will update this area to show the various match reports that are sent in.
To enter a match report please go the the Manager's area
June 30th is a day to remember for Barton Rovers A under
9s in only their 3rd competitive tournament they
won the main competition of the Kennet Valley Tournament. This
is a great achievement and a credit to the whole
team for their hard work and commitment throughout their
first year together.
After several semi final defeats
and Plate Winners trophies in other tournaments this
summer it was very nice to Win the Main Trophy at the
Burghfield Tournament. I split the A squad into two teams
and both played some cracking football. One team got
knocked on penalties in the semi and the other team consisting
of George Legg, Aaron Rowlands, Ben Partridge, Jack Wilkins,
Dan Hayward, Sam Clark & Josh Gillard won the final
1-0. Well done lads!!!!
Friday 25th May
Tonight was our presentation evening for winning the
league. it was a good night, the girls loved going up
on stage and seeing their lovely afces on the screen.
They all got a champions trophy and ahve a big one to
share.
Saturday 26th May
Today was the Wokingham tournament. This was a combined
tournament u11/u12 so we knew we had to work hard as
we had to play older and bigger girls. we battled very
well in the group stages and finished 2nd behind an u12
team.
We got through to the knockout
stages, where we found we were the only u11
team left and the rest were u12. we cruised
through to the semis beating frimley u12
3-0 but unfortunately the much bigger and stronger Camberley
u12's beat us. you all played very well and to beat a
lot of u12 teams was excellent and most of you are only
10 as you don't turn 11 until July or August. Well done
to Amber, Ellen, Rachel, Chloe, Kenzie, Frances, Jade
and Shannon.
Saturday 16th June
today was the Woodley Saints tournament
with very unpredictable weather so out came the gazebo,
put up by all the lovely mums, claire and mike, you mums
make a great team!!!!
We only had 7 players today as
our goalie Amber has broken her fingers and
Ellen was poorly, so we had a reshuffle and
put Frances in goal. Get better soon you
2! the goal were very low and small so they had to work
hard to get into the net today. there was an 8 team league
but you only had to play 4 teams, we had a lot of tough
games but managed to come 2nd in the division, which
in the end worked out best for us. Goals coming from
Rachel, Shannon, Jade, and a lovely individual goal by
Lauren.
So off to the semis to play Winnersh,
the game ended 0-0 after a lot of possession
from barton, so the dreaded penalities came.
we have only eve rwon one penalty shot out
we seem to always lose them. however with some well
placed penalties we won 4-3 and off to another
final. the final was against sandhurst who
had beat us earlier on in the day 1-0. we were 1-0 up
after a great goal from kenzie but with a minute to go
sandhurst equalized so spot kicks again!!! unfortunately
we lost 5-4 this time but credit to sandhurst who had
a great day.
Well done girls that's 4 tournaments
we have played and made 3 finals, winning
one and becoming runners up twice and the
other tournament making it the semis. i think
you are going to have to ask your mums to
buy you some more shelves for your trophies
as I'm sure they are getting full.
Well done to all nine of you: Amber, Kenzie, Chloe,
Lauren, Frances, Ellen, Rachel, Shannon and
Jade. lets keep it up!!!!!!
Claire and Emma
Runners up!!!
Another trophy for the girls, they
all played very well today, it was a repeat
of last years final against Denham Wildcats
and they won 1-0. The girls heads never went
down and thy were pushing for that equaliser
but it didn't come, much to the delight of
several other teams that booed us throughout
the final. The girls didn't let that bother
them and played some great football throughout
the day and were proud to be get into the
final out of the 14 teams that were there.
Your target this week girls is
to teach your parents how to kick the ball!!
as we had a parent and kids penalty shoot
out and I am afraid you parents need to practice a lot
more, mums you were okay!!!
Well done girls a fun afternoon
enjoyed by all and that's 2 tournaments and
2 finals, lets keep it up!!!
claire and emma
Girls win Mytchett tournament!!!!
What a great day!!! 5 team league
(Camberly, Mychett, Hart and Frimley) and
we played each other twice. the games were
7 minutes each way so that meant over 2 hours of football.
there was no knockout just straight winners and runner-ups
As usual we started of very slow
managing just to scrape a 1-1 draw with frimley.
however we thumped 6 past mtychett and then 3 against
camberly and 5 against hart.
So second round of games and we
got beat by frimley 2-1 who celebrated at
the end liked they had won the world cup
but we soon had the last laugh. another three
wins secured us joint top with Frimley after
they had also lost a game. however our goal
difference was much higher than theirs so we were crowned
winners.
First tournament and our first
win well done girls, 28 goals in a tournament
is very impressive, with near enough all
of you scoring. we ended the day on the slide
bouncy castle and the girls carried on showing
their skills with their back flips and everything!!!
U11s Girls
Barton Rovers 2 v 3 Sandhurst Town
Sirens
BARTON GIRLS BEATEN!!!!
The girls nearly went the whole season undefeated in
the league but were to lose on the last day!!!
Sandhurst Town are currently in
second place but they knew if they were to
lose they would have to have a play off with
Whitegrove so they needed this win desperately and this
showed in their play.
We usually take a while to warm
up but were surprisingly 1-0 up after a minute,
this got Sandhurst going and they were trying
so hard to limit our possession we were currently
in charge of.
Half time came and we were in control,
but this soon changed. although Sandhurst
were getting more possession they never seemed
to trouble us and a lovely strike from rachel
doubled our lead. however the next ten minutes were the
worst Barton had ever played, Sandhurst got 3 one on
one chances and scored them all much to the relief of
the whole of Sandhurst.
We had a lot
of possession and had a very poor performance
( we had previously beaten this team 9-0 and 10-0) and
Sandhurst took full advantage to proudly secure runners
up spot and be the first team to take points of us!!
Well done Girls you have all had
a great season and deserved to be crowned champions,
next season will be more of a challenge but we are always
up for a challenge, keep up the work you have made Emma
and Claire proud!!
We would like to thank all of the
girl's families for their support this season
and hope we can have the same success next
year!!!
U11sA
Barton Rovers 1 v 5 Cold Ash - Chronicle
Cup Final
Perfect conditions again, cool,
a gentle breeze and hazy sunshine saw an excellent start
for Rovers pushing forwards from the kick off. After
a poor clearance Williams floated the ball back into
the area and, after a attempts by several players to
either clear or score, Gerrard won the ball and fired
home to give Rovers an early lead. read
more
U11s Girls
Mytchett Athletic 0 - 7 Barton
Rovers
This was a fantastic game to watch,
the girls did not need any guidance today
and they just got on with it.
All the goals
today involved very good build up play,
one in which you decided to do about 15 cheeky
passes before you actually decided to shoot
and one great goal from our defender Chloe
from her own half (YOU EVEN GOT THE OTHER
TEAMS SUPPORTERS APPLAUDING VERY LOUD). Well
done everybody you played well,sorry Amber
you didn't really touch the ball in goal
but we don't want you to, but good shouting
from goal we could all hear you.
Girl of the match Chloe.
One more game to go against Sandhurst who are currently
2nd can we go do it!!
U11s Girls
Barton Rovers 4 v 2 Whitegrove
A close score line today but it
doesn't reflect the amount of possession
we had, the girls were constantly on the
attack but the ball didn't seem to want to go in the
net much today. overall a very good game against a determined
whitegrove who needed to get a win or draw to try and
confirm runners up.
Two more games to go, can we win the league undefeated???
U15s B
Barton Rovers B 5 v 1 Laurel Park
Once again we were in our winning ways. Right from the
kick off we attacked Laurel Park and if it was not for
their keeper we should have been 5 up at halftime, but
we were only 1 up due to a well taken goal by Arron.
The team were playing good football, but
maybe to many long balls in the 1st half. At halftime
I made 2 changes and brought the lads attention to more
passing around of the ball, this made a difference and
we then got another goal from Vik and then Patrick. Laurel
then had 1 attack and they scored when we could not get
rid of a ball in the box.
Eventually Sean scored after missing a few
1 on 1's with the keeper, and Patrick got a second. That
made it 5 - 1 to us.
The boys played very well and we now only
have 1 game left which could place us 3rd in the league
if we win.
MOM Sean Bunting
Well done lads.
U11 Girls
Barton Rovers 8-1 Reading Girls
Today we were down to just 7 players, so it started
with Amber in goal, Chloe and Lauren in Defence, Rachel and
Frances (usually a defender) in Midfield and Shannon and
Jade as Strikers.
We started surprisingly very well scoring after
just one minute and added 2 more soon afterwards. we were
3-0 up and it was nearly half time we got awarded a penalty so we let
Amber the goalie take it as she's the only one not to score for us and
her shot was saved so she had to sprint back to goal which was very amusing
to watch. better luck next time Amber!!
Throughout the first half they played
a very skilful and passing game which was great to watch,
so we knew there was more to come in the second half.
Second half came and everyone tried getting in on the action, our defenders
pushing up, we got a few more goals but were caught on the one occasion
as our defenders were caught too far up.
overall a very good performance, 3 more games to go and hopefully we
can win the league undefeated!!
U11 Girls
Aldershot Angels 0 v 8 Barton Rovers
Today Barton girls secured the title with 4 games
to go with an excellent win over a very much improved Aldershot
side.
It took the girls a very long time to break through a very big and strong
Aldershot defence, however the first goal pushed the girls on and they
soon got into a rhythm. Goals coming from Ellen, Kenzie, Rachel and girl
of the match Shannon.
The game was finished with a water fight to celebrate
winning the league as they are too young for champagne!!!!
Next week is going to be tough against Reading
Girls as we are down to the bare minimum because of holidays and are
without our midfielders so some of you are going to play out of position
with no subs but will give it a go!!
Well done girls your first competitive year
of girls football and you have won the league!!!!
U11sA
Barton Rovers 0 - 2 Cold Ash
Cold Ash started the game on a cold day and firm ground in what was
a mirror match for the upcoming Chronicle Cup Final game
next month.read more
U12s B
Lower Earley Predators 4 v 1 Barton Rovers B
Barton finished a promising first season at XI
a side with a rousing and heart lifting performance at Bearwood College
with an eventual 1
- 4 defeat at the hands of Champions elect, Lower Earley - but in the
process pushed Lower Earley all the way for long periods of the game.
Barton started the fixture in a bright fashion and were soon probing
the LE defence from both flanks, competing well in midfield, as
well as looking solid and composed at the back. The first 15 minutes
saw both teams playing a game of cat and mouse and Barton looked a completely
different proposition from the one that had crashed so badly against
Lower Early back on the opening day of the season. At this stage, it
was "Even Stevens" with all to play for and Barton encouraged by
a huge travelling support looked set to make a real game of this - which
they went on to do !
But it was Lower Early who took the lead straight
from a left hand corner after 20 minutes and then added a
second early on in the second half. But after both goals, Barton rallied and
for long periods of the second half too the game right to the heart of
the opposition defence - a number of excellent chances were created,
but we just lacked the magic touch in front of goal - and this from a
team who have finished as third highest scorers in the division. Lower
Earley countered again and from their point of view scored two more well
taken goals, to make it 4 - 0, and gave us a clue as to why they are
the run away leaders of the division and finalists in the cup too. But
still Barton would not lie down. Towards the end, top scorer Callum
Mackie scored a truly magnificent goal after a trade mark run
down the left hand flank, in which he shrugged off several defenders,
drew the keeper and then slotted the ball home for number 24 of the season.
At this stage, Barton took the game completely by the scruff of
the neck and one felt if we had scored a second, we might have staged
a grandstand finish. The second half ended as had the first - with Barton
in control, on top and pouring forward at every attempt, while looking
nice and safe at the back. What a way to finish the season !
Despite
the score line, Barton had 13 heroes out there on Sunday
and can feel proud of the way they took on the top team in the division
and gave them plenty to think about and on another day might have grabbed
a well deserved point. But that's what we have come to expect from this
bunch of lads, who have done so well this season, given so much and achieved
a huge deal - alas, this season now comes to an end, but we look forward
to the few friendlies we have and then the tournaments we are in, before
resuming battle afresh next autumn.
One feels that this team
can only get better and with a bit more consistency can go
on to aspire to a higher finish again this time next year.
For most definitely the last time
this season, from clear, crisp sunny and well maintained pitch
at Bearwood College, this is.... .....Touch Line Dad
U14s B
Barton A 2 v 2 Barton Colts2
Not a very good performance today from the colts.
I had to shuffle the boys about as I had 3 players missing but that is
taking nothing away from the A team who were good today. The same players
showed again for me while some of my boys sat back and hid. Aaron De
Rama scored and so did Trevor Mutero who both played well, goalkeeper
Leon Le Croix could do nothing against 2 well hit strikes from the A
team and had to be alert several times as did the A keeper who pulled
off some blinding saves(well done to you James) ya dad had a shocker
mate!!!!!.
James Scho tried hard in midfield against Matt
H and Matt F who really played well, well done Scho, Roshan
Gurung battled hard up front alone and did well against 3
defenders, Dan Lee was up against it but again did very well.
We need to do better against Newbury next week or we are
going to get thumped so the boys who did not deliver
today need to stand up and be counted..with a bit of luck Rohan,Michael
and David should be back.
Well done to the A team and Ian...if only the Colts manager
would shut up and STOP MOANING...sorry Richard!!!!!!!!
U15s B
Shinfield Rangers 2 v 3 Barton Rovers B
This was against 2nd in the league and one of the teams who were hopefully
going for promotion.
After 4 weeks I finally had 12 players turn up and what a
difference it made. The pitch was hard but the game was played in a very
good spirit, during the 1st half Shinfield got through our defence a
few times but Martin was always there to stop them and we would then
go up the other end and eventually we hit the post,the bar and most of
the time their keeper.
Unfortunately after 25mins Shinfield got a 1 on 1 situation
and the striker put it in to make it 1 - 0 at half time.
After a gentle half time talk you could see we were determined
again and right from the kick off we passed the ball through their defence
to Patrick who sweetly put the ball away. 1 - 1.
We then got a free kick our 1st of the game and up stepped
our free kick specialist Danny who like last week stuck it in the top
corner with venom. 2-1.
The game went from end to end for the next 30 minutes, I then asked the ref
how long and he said 1 minute plus stoppage,DOH NEVER AGAIN. Shinfield then
attacked and during a bit of confusion in defence the ball fell to their striker
who then scored. 2-2.
Our heads did not go down and once again from the kick off we attacked, the
ball went to Vik who passed it to James who struck the best cross ball through
the heart of Shinfield's defence to Danny who had 1 touch and then stuck it
below the keepers body. I reckon I will not see a better goal again this season.
3-2, that was how it ended. A well deserved win.
MOM Martin Holloway.
Well played lads 3 weeks off now to rest and recover.
U11 Girls
Whitegrove Emeralds 0-3 Barton Rovers
A low scoring game for us today compared to the last time we played
these but what a great game we had. The girls really played like a team
today we lost count of the amount of passes you did and the skill you
lot showed today was unbelievable for girls your age. Goals from Shannon,
Jade and Ellen. Play how you played today and there will be no stopping
you. Well done girls you made your mums proud on mother's day!!!
U11s A
Barton Rovers 3 v 2 Kennet Valley
The day looked like it could be difficult with
a wind blowing steadily straight down the pitch but at least the sun
was shining when the game began. Kennett kicked off, playing into the
wind, and launched themselves headlong up-field - a fast start, which
won them an early corner. Quickly taken it came into the Barton area
but wasn't cleared. It fell to a Kennett player and he drilled it low
into the back of the net to give them the early lead. read
more
U15s B
Caversham AFC Cobras 6 Barton Rovers 1
Unfortunately we only had 9 players turn up today against 1 of the best
teams in our league.
But give credit where it is deserved, we gave them a game
they will remember.
In the 1st half we tried to play football and we played very
well passing the ball around and always fighting to get the ball back
when we lost it, our Martin also pulled off some cracking saves to keep
us in the game. Vik had a few long range shots which just went over the
crossbar. We ended the 1st half 0 - 0. That was a result in itself.
In the second half the wind picked up unfortunately against
us and it hailstormed.We were then given a free kick which Danny neatly
put away in the top corner, to make it 1-0, this unfortunately got Caversham
going and we slowly ran out of energy, giving away a penalty and another
5 goals, but even at the end we almost scored twice with some beautiful
passing.
Everybody around the pitch applauded and congratulated Barton
Rovers for playing football and it made me proud to be manager of the
FANTASTIC NINE as they were called by Caversham supporters.
The FANTASTIC NINE were Martin, CJ,Jonny,Mark S,Mark D,Patrick,Danny,
Vik and Arron E. Everyone of you were the Man of the Match.
U11s Girls
Barton Rovers 12 v 0 Aldershot Girls
A very good game today, you all played very well
it was hard to choose girl of the match but it went to Frances
for her first goal this season, so that means everybody has now scored
on the team apart from the goalie so well done!!!
Goals coming from Jade, Rachel,
Ellen, Shannon, Kenzie and Frances. lets keep it up we
have second place Whitegrove next week so play how you usually
do and you will be fine!
The league title is coming our way!!!!
U11s A
Another great day for a match, sunshine, a steady
breeze and the pitch soft but not slippery. Barton won the toss and elected
to go with the breeze behind them but slightly uphill in the first half. read
more
U11s C
Caversham AFC Cougars 1 v 1 Barton Rovers C
Barton Rovers C rediscovered their form as they bounced back from a
goal down to draw 1-1 at top of the table Caversham AFC Cougars. In a
highly entertaining game the home side struck first courtesy of a Barton
own goal. However, Rovers struck in the second half to deservedly claim
a share of the spoils, scoring a well worked goal when Michael found
Connor who’s flick from a tight angle found the bottom corner.
Goalkeeper Mat made an impressive double save to
keep the home side at bay, but it was Rovers who finished the game the
strongest. Man of the match Alex was a rock at the back, and turned in
his best performance in a Barton shirt. Fellow defender Sean and midfield
dynamo Matthew also excelled for Barton.
Well done lads, a real team performance.
U12s B
Cold Ash - 6 v
0 Barton Rovers
Barton Under 12 B came back down to earth after the high of the previous
week against Theale, with a 6 - 0 defeat at the hands of Cold Ash, who
in the process, became only the first team to do the double over us this
season. But over the 60 minutes,we learnt a lot about ourselves and the
sort of team we are, and in the end, finished the game with lots of credit.
This was always going to be a tricky game - Cold
Ash are a good team and have an overall playing record not too dissimilar
to our own.
Kicking off against a strong wind, Barton struggled to
get their passing game going, and while still creating
a few good chances up front, never really hit top gear.
At the back, we started well and looked quite composed,
but after falling two goals behind mid way through the
first half, then fell further behind - a combination of
some bad luck, good play by Cold Ash and in one or two
cases, some over tentative play in our own last third of
the pitch. By the time we got to half time, Barton were
up against it at 5 - 0 down, and had it all to do in the
second half.
To the huge credit of the all 14 boys involved, we played
out of our skins in the second half, and while again never
moving in to top form, played 100% better. We hit the bar,
the post and had a number of great efforts too. One felt
that if we had scored early on, we might have been in with
a decent shout of pushing Cold Ash towards the end of the
game. But it was not to be, and while we kept battling
away, and played some good football in the second half,
we had left ourselves too much to do.
What this game confirmed was the highly competitive nature
of the division we are in, and the fact we need to be at
the top of our game just about every week if we are to
get the results we are capable of. What we also learnt
was that even at 5 - 0 down, we are able to play some excellent
football - heads didn't drop, there was a huge effort to
get back in to the game and at least make it look a bit
more respectable in the second half. Notably, we kept our
discipline and team spirit going right to the very end,
which saw us finish strongly and with pride still in tact,
as we gave Cold Ash plenty to think about in the second
half. Barton finished with heads held high as we took the
game to the opposition at every opportunity and all 14
boys involved can be proud of the way we gave it the "Full
Monty" for much of the second period.
In some ways, while dishing it out to TT the previous week
was enjoyed by all - this game was more of a learning curve
than we could have imagined. In the end, while a 6 - 0
defeat was a bit of a blot on the excellent Barton copy
book of late, the boys should be proud of the way we handled
a very difficult situation and refused to give up the ghost
till the end of the match. This was just not our day, so
lets not worry too much, put this one behind us and think
how we can all look to do better in training and in our
remaining fixture - and not let this detract from, what
overall, has been an excellent first season at 11 a side.
Reporting from a bright, sunny Cold Ash, this is still
a very proud "Touch Line Dad"
U11s Girls
Fleet Town 4 v 1 Barton Rovers
Barton's cup dreams end here!!!
Today was the semi final of the cup against Fleet
who are leading the South Division. We knew today was going
to be tough as we hadn't had a game in 5 weeks due to teams
canceling on us at the last minute for various reasons.
Rumours were that Fleet have two Chelsea academy
players (not sure the truth in this one) so we knew there
was going to be a tough game ahead.
Barton started very brightly putting lots of pressure
on Fleet. Then out of nowhere Fleet got a goal. however we
soon got one back. We then had a bit of bad luck as the lino
and ref couldn't communicate so Fleet were awarded a corner
which they took quickly and scored. Half time and we were
trailing 2-1.
Once again Barton were looking the stronger side
but Fleet got another goal out of the blue. from
here the girls heads dropped and they soon conceded another.
Fleet took full advantage of Bartons below average performance
and lack of games and deservedly won their place in the final,
which they should win at ease.
We did the double on Fleet last season and they
got us back today. You all ran your socks off and remember
there is always next year.
This was the first time we have lost in a game
in a year and a half so well done for getting this far. We
still haven't lost in the league and remain 12 points clear
so lets win our remaining games. Next season all our games
will be close as we will be put into ability divisions so
Fleet ...see you next year!!!
Good Luck to Fleet for the final!!
U12s B
Barton Rovers 7 v 0 Theale Tigers B
Barton Under 12 B turned in a simply irresistible
performance at a wet and muddy Turnham's Farm on Sunday with a comprehensive
7 - 0 victory over local rivals Theale Tigers. This was probably
just about as good an all round team performance as one might
have asked for, with Barton winning individual battles all
round the pitch.
The team also displayed an extraordinary
level of commitment, team spirit, fitness, and finally, not
least, so much class and skill in all areas that TT could
simply not live with a rampant and powerful Barton team.
By the end of the game, TT looked totally shell shocked at the sheer
dynamic style of Barton's play and a spent force - while Barton looked
as if they could, and would, have run all day.
Callum Mackie led the
way, with a coolly taken hat trick, to register goals number
21, 22 and 23 of the season, and generally led the TT defence a merry
dance for the duration. Other goals were all clinically taken by "Bomber" Beasley,
Tom "Thumb" Burnett,
skipper Joe Ritchie and the impressive Jordan Blake. Barton
started the game strongly, and once in front to be honest,
never looked like letting things slip. Chance
after chance was created, and while 7 represents a good morning's
work, to be honest if the score had been doubled, it would
not have been an injustice.
3 -0 up at half time, Barton
turned the screw in the second period to add 4 more. Some
of the Barton passing in all areas of the pitch, on a tricky
playing surface, was simply a joy to watch and time after
time we carved huge holes in the TT defensive formation.
This was a powerful, all round performance and combined a
huge amount of skill with a desire to win and positive team spirit that
TT had no answer to. As well as carving out a huge number of chances
up front, the back four looked as solid and effective
s we have done
all season, reducing Rob Sherwood to a spectator for long
periods of the game. In
midfield, we tackled and passed as if our lives depended
on it. To pick out any one player as being man of the match
would be unfair - quite simply we had 12 of them. This was
a performance to have been proud of, on behalf of the players
themselves, their parents who braved the rain and wind and
the Barton club in all. Not least, it showed the hard work that
has been going on in training and the results this will bring
if we stick at it.
Playing football has been likened to playing
a piano - this was a classic, virtuoso team performance
and the tune was as sweet as a nut. Quite simply, Barton out
fought, out passed and out played a TT team in all areas
of the pitch and showed a commitment to the cause to have
been proud of.
Well done Barton - this was an important
win and not least we have the local bragging rights at
least until next season ! From Turnhams Farm........ ..... this is most
definitely, a very wet, muddy but totally happy........ Touchline Dad
U12s B
Barton Rovers U12 B 2 v 2
Laurel Park
Barton confirmed their excellent 4th position in
the Division 2 table after a hard earned point against a well organised
and hard working Laurel Park team on Sunday with a battling 2 - 2 draw.
After a run of 3 defeats, this was a significant improvement, and at
times Barton played some great football and showed plenty of grit and
determination to come back from 0 - 2 down early on in the second half.
Joe Beasley just about claimed the first after an almighty goal mouth
scramble and Callum Mackie continued his great scoring record with an
absolute screamer from 25 yards and more, to bring Barton level again.
After that, Barton looked as if they actually might go and win it, as
LP began to tire and although a number of good chances were created,
we could not just finish the job off.
Barton stated off the game in fine style, and put together
a number of well constructed passing moves. Although living
a bit dangerously at the back for the first 15 minutes,
we looked a different team from the one that finished the
game against Thatcham the previous week - full of purposeful
intent and with a good collective team spirit. But we know
that LP are no mugs, and the game see sawed from end to
end. Barton created a number of excellent scoring chances
but the final end reward seemed to cruelly elude us. We
carried on with some enterprising play down both flanks
with some quite excellent inter passing.
But it was LP who drew first blood and then went further ahead just
after the break. At this stage, Barton were looking down the barrel a
bit but showed huge resilience as first Bomber Beasley nudged home from
short range with the help of an LP defender and then Callum launched
a long range effort which gave the LP keeper no chance.
Barton kept on playing some great stuff for the
duration of the second half and might have nicked it in the end. But
it was not to be. The game got a bit heated in the last few minutes but
Barton kept their cool and matched whatever LP could throw at them -
Jordan Blake suffered a nasty blow to the face but took it like a man
and we did not let this knock us off our stride.
In the end, maybe a draw was a fair result - but Barton
can take great credit in the way we battled back and played
such good football for much of the game. Some of our passing
moves were a pleasure to watch, the defending tightened
up as the game went on - once again, Rob Sherwwod in goal
and Peter Twyford in the middle of the back four had excellent,
solid games. George Taylor played well at right back with
some great forward movement, Joe Giles finished the game
stronger than he started and Joe Ritchie had a barn storming
second half. In midfield, Paul Surtees covered every blade
of grass and Joe Beasley passed the ball well and might
have added to his goal with several other excellent efforts.
Tom Burnett found it tough going to start with, but showed
excellent composure in his second spell and Alix Young
beavered away and also showed some nice touches. Up front,
Callum Mackie scored a real screamer and might have had
2/3 others on another day, and Alex Turnball show some
clever and deft passes to bring team mates in to play.
Big George had a few tussles out on the wing against a
quick and clever winger, but stuck to his task well. And
Jordan - what can we say mate ? A a good game, a bang on
the nose, plenty of blood - but he will be back for more
no doubt !
With a bit of luck, we might have just nicked the win at
the end, but it was not to be. But this was a game that
after 35 minutes of, we had to stand up and be counted
- both individually and collectively - and all in all we
came through with flying colours !
Well done Barton - you fully deserved this point, maybe
more, now on to the next one !
Reporting from a muddy Turnhams Farm, this is......
Touchline Dad
U15B
Barton Rovers 3 Shinfield Rangers 4.
This was always going to be a hard match against
1 of the best teams in our league at present, this became a lot harder
when only 11 boys turned up out of the normal 15. All morning we tried
to keep the match playable so we could play and in the end we did well.
At the start of the match the Referee got both teams and
Managers across and read them the rules of his refereeing.
Once the game started both teams were playing very good football
across the pitch. In the 15 minute they put the ball through our defence
and it was then a race between our goalkeeper, a defender and their 2
strikers to get to the ball, unfortunately our defender and goalkeeper
collided and the ball bobbled out to 1 striker and he had a easy touch
in.
We then had 5 minutes to get our goalkeeper and defender
back fit again but they both carried on with the injuries. After the
kick off we raced up the field and with good 1- 2 play Patrick scored
a great equaliser. It was then end to end through the remainder of the
1st half.
In the second half, we tried to play football again, but
once again fortune was not our side, 1 of their strikers tried a shot
it deflected of our defender, hit the post and then came of the back
of our goalkeeper who had dived onto the ground at the time and once
again deflected to 1 of their strikers again. We were then under constant
pressure and they finally got their 3rd goal a long range shot that our
keeper could not jump to reach with his injury, so it was 3-2.
We then changed our team formation to a 3-5-2 with our 2
injured outfield players playing in the midfield, it appeared
to work because 1 of these players passed the ball through their defence
and Patrick ran on to it and put it passed the keeper to make it 3-2.
They then came back and scored another, but for the last 15 minutes they
were holding on by making 5 substitutes to slow the game down, but Danny
took the ball down the right wing through in a low cross and Arron despatched
into the top corner. It was then 4-3, as it finished everybody
shook each others hand and both teams were applauded off the pitch by
all parents. The referee only blew for 2 fouls throughout the game. At
the end our 11 players were absolutely tired and 3 were wearing bandages
and cuts and scars, but they made all their parents very proud. Fantastic
game boys.
MOM Jonathon Burgess, ! our tower of strengths in the
defence and great captain.
Players- Martin,CJ,Jonathon,James,Chris H,Vik,Chris A,Sean,Danny,Arron
and finally Patrick.
Under 12s B
Thatcham 7 v 3
Barton Rovers
This was always going to be a tough fixture against
a high flying Thatcham team - and we were not wrong !
As for the last 2 weeks,
the end result though might give a somewhat distorted score line to the
match. Not least, as Barton started so brightly and had soon taken a
2 goal lead after Jordan Blake had forced home from close range early
on and then Callum Mackie finished off a lightning fast break which saw
us go the full the length of the pitch to notch the second. But Thatcham
came back strongly and after pulling one back, eventually equalised on
the stroke of half time to make it 2 - 2.
Barton had played some excellent
stuff at this stage and had defended well against a quick
passing and spirited Thatcham outfit who, after this victory,
have moved into second place in the table. At the start of
the second half, it was anyone's game, but to their credit Thatcham really
came at us in the second period and soon moved in to a commanding lead
of which they were never going to let go. Several of their goals came
from well executed moves and shots, but we also contributed to our own
downfall on several occasions. But Barton kept plugging away and finally
in the last few seconds, Joe "Bomber" Beasley
scored with aa tremendous shot to give us some consolation.
This was a
frustrating afternoon for everyone - and while defeat always hurts,
we must not look back too much but look forward to the final run in to
the season, where we have plenty of challenging games ahead of us, starting
with Laurel Park this coming Sunday. There are always lessons to be learnt
from defeat - not least that we need to keep to our game plan when the
going gets tough and when things start to go against us, we re double
efforts all round the pitch.Thatcham are by on means a bad team at all,
but at times we made it quite straightforward for them. What we can learn
from Thatcham was that even at 2 - 0 down, they never felt they were
out of it - and stuck to their guns, while at times, when things went
against us in the second half, we looked as if we always wanted "someone
else" to do the hard work for us......these are all hard lessons to learn,
but ones we must not be afraid to face up to if we are to move on and finish
the season as we know we can.
Man of the Match was Pete Twyford, who kept trying
right to the very end and looked sharp and committed throughout. Rob
Sherwood in goal played well, and up front, Callum Mackie carried the
fight to Thatcham for the duration but just ran out of steam at the end.
While all others contributed, too much of it was on a somewhat patchy
basis to really get the performance we are clearly capable of [and as
we have shown] against the top teams in our division. So lets get going
again in training on Tuesday and Saturday and have a right go against
LP on Sunday...... Overall though - we are still 4th in the table, we
have still had as excellent season and at times on Sunday we still played
some good stuff without maybe ever really clicking into top gear. Come
on Barton ! Lets go again "all guns blazing" this Sunday...
Reporting
from Thatcham.... this is, Touchline Dad
Under 14s Colts
Barton Rovers 6 v 3 Wrightchoice
Another great performance from the boys today.
Everyone worked for each other and we fully deserved this
win. Michael Greenwood scored another hat trick and took
the motm award. Trevor Mutero scored 2 while Roshan Gurung
scored the other. Aaron De Rama, Daniel Lee, Israel Lawal
and James Schofield were awesome in defence considering
the quality they were up against today. Goalkeeper Leon
Le Croix how good are you kiddo (you know it). Midfield,
David Chesworth, Captain Rohan Wijeratne, Joe Webb (a year
younger....Yeh right!!!) and Roshan Gurung you boys wouldn't
lay down....Fantastic.The forwards michael Greenwood and
Trevor Mutero I wouldn't change you two for anyone...Brilliant
and my subs Robert Horne and Bob Dinsey well done to you
both. I am buzzing after this result each time we have
played this good team we have been slaughtered, today I
asked my team to step up another level and they did. I
am PROUD OF YOU ALL WELLDONE.
U11s A
Barton Rovers 2 v 2 Burghfield
A great day for the game, sunny spells, not too cold and a gentle breeze. After all of the wet weather it was amazing that the pitch was in such great condition.
As usual both teams came out looking to get the upper hand and after several minutes of fairly even play it was Burghfield who got the early break. A good through ball got behind the Rovers defence and Raines latched onto it quickly to slide his shot home for the lead. read more
U11 Girls
Barton Rovers 2 - 2 Frimley Green Girls (Barton win
4 - 2 on penalties)
We made it a real task to win this game having
to win it on penalties. Right from the start you could see
that Frimley wanted to give it a real go so Barton were under
a lot of pressure, with a lot of poor defending today. Frimley
eventually went ahead, shortly followed by a similar goal.
Amber in goal was keeping us in it.
Half time came and for the
first time this season we were losing (2-0), but credit
to the girls, they kept their heads up and were determined
to win it. 30 seconds into the second half Ellen scores to
bring the game back on and this really spirited the girls
to get that next goal. It was not long before we equalised
and we started to play how we should. Even though we were
dominating in the second half that winning goal just wouldn't
come.
So into extra time and it was end to end stuff
and nobody seemed to test either keeper so penalties were
on the way.
Amber made a great save and Frimley
kicked one wide so we won 4-2 on penalties (Ellen, Rachel,
Jade and Kenzie all placed their shots well).
Even though it was one of our worst first half
performances this season we scrapped our way through to the semi-
final away to the leaders of the south division Fleet,
what fun this game will bring!!!!
U11s A
Twyford 0 v 3 Barton Rovers
This was our 3rd win on the bounce and puts us
in the cup semi final.
It took us probably 20 minutes to get going which
is not surprising bearing in mind this was our 1st game
in NINE WEEKS!!!!!!!
The heavy pitch told on our some of our players
but overall we tried to pass the ball and apart from one
chance in the 1st half which was caused by a defensive error Twyford
did not look like scoring and our defence was well on top.
Had we not
been caught off side so often by a mixture of sloppy front
play and an over zealous Twyford assistant ref then we may
have scored a hatful. Good goals from Benjamin, Dan and mom Sam
Ellis. Well done lads!
U12s B
Barton Rovers 2 v 7
Laurel Park
Barton Rovers Under 12 B tumbled out of the Optiplan Cup 7 - 2 to a
hard working and pacey Laurel Park team at Turnhams Farm on Sunday. This
was ultimately a disappointing result, but as often the case, does not
really tell the full story of the game.
Barton kicked off on a beautiful sunny morning in ideal conditions and
soon started to pass the ball around in an exhilarating fashion, while
looking sold as a rock at the back. Some of the passing was quite excellent
and LP struggled to contain a lively Barton front line.
Callum Mackie soon fired Barton in to an early lead and
it only seemed a matter of time before more were added,
as chance after chance was created. LP had no answer to
the slick passing of Barton at this stage, and so it came
as a bit of a shock when they equalised with a penalty,
and then broke quickly to gain a surprise 2 - 1 half time
lead. Barton's play for most of the first 30 minutes had
been as good as anything we have given this season, but
we had just not reaped the benefits - in terms of goals
- it so richly deserved.
In to the second half, Barton looked to be back on track,
as Callum Mackie fired in his second after a sweeping move
down the left wing had again cut the LP defence to ribbons.
At 2 - 2, it was anyone's game, and Barton looked to be
in a good position to drive home their superiority and
move in to the last 4 of the tournament in style.
At this stage, LP picked themselves back up off the floor
and hit back with 2 quick goals to make it 4 - 2 - not
a reflection of the game at all, but then proceeded to
give Barton something of a run around in the last 15 minutes,
as they added three further goals to run out 7 - 2 winners.
Barton looked well beaten by the end, but to their credit,
kept plugging away and almost managed a couple of consolation
strikes right at the end.
This was something of a mixed performance - for the first
30 minutes, we looked as if we would run riot and be a
match for anyone. But the longer the second half went on,
the more ragged we looked - understandable,when the game
begins to slip away, as it did so quickly in a 10 minutes
spell in the second half. On the basis of our quite excellent
first half performance, this probably only made the end
result all the more disappointing.
As always, we must look to take the positives from this
and learn what we can - in the first spell of the game,
we were fantastic and created chances galore and could
have been "out sight" by half time. In the
second half, we will have learnt again that we need to
concentrate for the full duration of the game, especially
having done the hard work in getting back to 2 - 2. And
when things go a bit wrong, we need to stick together
as a team and not go into our shells and expect a team
mate to sort things out for us - when something doesn't
go right, we need to be big enough to fix it ourselves
- both individually and collectively......
7 - 2 looks a bad result for Barton, but there was so much
good football in the first half - and good attitude - that
if we can stick this together for the full 60 minutes,
we will soon be back to winning ways that's for sure. And
with Theale Tigers next up at home on this coming Sunday,
this would be a good place to start ! Lets not dwell too
much on what went wrong on Sunday, but more about how much
excellent football we played at times and look to put things
right as soon as possible.....
Tough lines Barton , you probably deserved a bit more
from this game, but its all part of the learning curve
we are going through, so "heads up" lads and
lets have another bash this coming Sunday.....!!
Reporting from a gloriously sunny Turnhams Farm, this is....
Touchline Dad
Under14s Colts
Kennet Valley 0 v 7COLTS
Colts played some fantastic football today to win
0-7.To think we had not played a game together for seven weeks this was
a remarkable performance.
Michael Greenwood was Colts motm and he scored
a hat trick while Trevor Mutero scored 2 Aaron De Rama
1 and Roshan Gurung 1.Leon Le Croix came back for his first
game in goal after breaking his finger and dealt brilliantly
with anything that came his way. Daniel Lee I cant believe
how good he has become and is now an important part of my team as is
the ever improving Israel Lawal. Robert Horne was solid as was the ever
impressing Aaron De Rama.In midfield Roshan Gurung was very good along
with the versatile James Schofield with captain Rohan Wijeratne and young
Joe Webb fighting for everything...Brilliant.upfront Motm Michael Greenwood
3 goals and Trevor Mutero 2 goals says it all.
Subs Sam Oughton played two different positions
and was very good along side David Chesworth and Bob Dinsey
and bringing these boys on did not disrupt the flow of the
team great credit to them .Meadway Youth on sunday 2oclock
ko turnhams,that is going to be a hard one and we will have to be on
our game.
Well done to Nat who has signed for Brentford
and we wish him all the best.
Well done boys proud of you all.
U11s Girls
Whitegrove Emeralds 1 v 9 Barton Rovers
TOP OF THE TABLE CLASH!!
We were on top form to put 9 past a strong Whitegrove
team. It took us a while to get going but once we did there
was no stopping us. Everyone played excellently today and
supported each other well. The highlight of the game was
Ellen's excellent free kick, it went straight into the top
corner, she didn't know how to react. Well done Amber for
your goal kicks and the rest of you who scored. We are now
9 points clear at the top having won 13 out of 13!
Quarter finals of the cup against Frimley from the other league, its
going to be very tough next week girls!!
keep up the good work!!
U12s B
Barton Rovers 1 v 3
Cold Ash
Barton's good start to 2007 came
unstuck at a cold, but bright Turnhams Farm yesterday, against a lively
and well organised Cold Ash fit and eventually went down 1 - 3. This
is something of a bump back down to earth after two excellent results
of late and a reality check all round - but, we have been saying for
some time that this is a very competitive division, where all can beat
all - and this fixture proved the point. It just re enforces the fact
that we must approach every game we play in the right frame of mind,
if we are to exploit our full potential towards the end of the season.
What we have to do is to learn to win together..... and loose together
too, as a team. The real test of what sort of team we are will be when
we face tough opposition in both league and cup over the next few weeks.
Yet, Sunday started all so well,
as leading scorer Callum Mackie fired in his 16th of the
season, to give Barton an early lead and this looked to set
us on our way. But Barton appeared to have not taken in to
account a quick passing and workman like performance from Cold Ash, allied
to their an urgency to win both first and second tackles
at every occasion and expose an alarming lack of communication
from Barton all round the pitch. Barton soon found themselves
on the back foot. Only some stout defending prevented from
Cold Ash from going ahead, as well as some sound keeping
from Rob Sherwood. But it seemed only a matter of time
before Cold Ash leveled. This they did, before eventually
going ahead, 2 - 1. Both teams had further chances to score
and despite looking strangely tentative for much of the
first period, Barton stepped up a gear in the spell immediately
towards half time. Barton created several excellent opportunities
to equalise, but on each occasion just could not finish
off good approach play. At half time, Barton were maybe
a shade lucky to be still in it at just 2 -1 but with the
wind behind them, were looking for one of their famous
comebacks in the second half.
Cold Ash again made the better start to the second half
and a well worked goal saw them stretch the lead to 3 -
1. After this set back, Barton clearly had a lot to do
in order to salvage something from the game - but proceeded
to play their best football of the match. Numerous chances
were created with Callum, Bomber Beasley, Jordan, Paul
Surtees, Alex Turnbull and Joe Ritchie all having excellent
efforts turned away. One felt if we could get one back,
we would launch a grandstand finish - but as the clock
ticked by, it seemed to be destined as "just one of
those days". Barton continued to hold most of the
possession till the final whistle, but could not find that
magical flash of inspiration to bring us back in to the
game.......
This was a disappointing result for sure - but the big
plus is that we know we can play better throughout the
whole team - and as always we must look for the positives
- not least we played some good football in the second
half and kept plugging away looking for that flash of magic
that would bring us back in to the game. We created a good
number of chances throughout the game. We wobbled a bit
defensively at times, but ultimately held it together at
the back to prevent Cold Ash from going too far in front.
We switched the team around - not least all got a good
chance to make an impression the game - and tried a few
different people in different positions - all part of a
valuable learning experience. We kept going to the very
end and as mentioned one felt that if we had a got a second
back, well who knows.........?
All good things come to an end - we put together a good
run of just 1 defeat in 6 games - and saw us propel ourselves
up the table. One defeat does not mean disaster - in fact
far from it. We are still 4th - we still have games in
hand - we still have a good team capable of playing some
excellent football. We have the right sized squad and all
will be involved for the rest of the season. And it might
sound corny, but teams normally find out more about themselves
in defeat than victory - and how we react this week will
be important. We need to think about what might be improved
for next week - how we trained this last week, what our
own role was in the match and how we reacted to being 3
- 1 down to what is, make no mistake, a good Cold Ash team.
As they say, if you fall off a bike, the best thing to
do is get back on it - next up are Laurel Park in the Cup,
who yesterday pulled off a good win against WWFC [3 -2].
A positive Barton performance this coming Sunday starts
with good sessions on Tuesday night and on Saturday morning
- and with all of us pulling in the same direction - players,
parents and the coaching team, we cannot only get back
on that bike, but cycle it for absolute miles too - and
with "all guns blazing" !
Heads up Barton, this is not the end of the world - lets
get back to winning ways soon. We have a great team and
a good set of boys involved this season and a good win
against LP would be the ideal "tonic for the troops" before
returning to tough league action....c'mon lads, lets see
what we are made of !!
Reporting live from Turnhams Farm.....this is.....
Touchline Dad21st January 2007
U12s B
Barton Rovers 6
v 3 Westwood Wanderers
Looking the absolute "bees knees" in our new kit
sponsored by Abbey Windows, Barton Under 12 made it a 2 out of 2 since the Christmas
and New Year break with a hard fought 6 - 3 win over local rivals Westwood Wanderers.
On a sticky surface - thanks to Andy Young by the way - for some valuable
work with the fork on Saturday morning to help drain key areas - this was, like
our earlier game against WWFC, a close, entertaining and well spirited fixture.
In the end, Barton had just that bit too much fire power all round the pitch
for Westwood, but at the same time, we were made to go the full distance before
finally claiming all the points.
In the opening spell of the game, Barton soon took control and an excellent
flowing,passing move at pace saw Alex Turnbull make it 1 -0 before Paul Surtees
put us 2 - 0 up with an absolute scud missile of a shot from the edge of the
box - had there not been a net there, the ball would probably have ended up
just outside Tilehurst Village Butchers ! Westwood then fought back as Barton
struggled to find the right tactics after shuffling the team around in the
middle of the game. This saw the match evenly balanced just after half time
at 2 - 2. Westwood's first goal, in particular, was a peachy little number.
Barton seemed to be rocking a bit, as we lost our way for a spell, before a
brave effort from Tom Burnett saw him notch his first goal for the team from
short range, Callum Mackie then tucked away a beauty and Alex Turnbull put
the result beyond all reasonable doubt with his second and our 5th. Still
WW came back again when their star man scored his third, which made it 5 -
3 before Joe "Bomber" Beasley
drilled home a 12 yarder with some venom, to make it 6 - 3 in our favour.
All in all, an excellent result, although at times in the middle period, we
made hard work of the proceedings - and we need to make sure we do not do our
regular trick of "taking the foot off the peddle".
But these are minor criticisms - we are now 4th in the table. With games in
hand on the teams both above and below us, expectation is running high as to
just how far up the table we can finish. But there are tough games coming up
against some of the stronger teams in our division. We need to continue working
on key aspects of our game - throw ins come to mind [hmm, hmm]. However,
we are 4th on merit but we must not stop doing the things that have got us in
this position - quick passing and good team work is the what is needed, rather
than trying to do too much ourselves. When we get it right, we can be devastating
and y'day we could have maybe scored the same number again, if we had been just
that bit more composed in front of goal and with our passing in the final third
of the pitch.
Once again, all the squad contributed - Rob Sherwood looked well organised
and in control in between the sticks, Ben Hopkins did well both at the back
and especially in his spell up front. Joe Giles and Pete Twyford both had constructive
games at the back and showed at times a good understanding between them is
developing,while George Taylor carried on his excellent and rapidly improving
season. Big George looked a bit "ring rusty" to begin with but was soon back in the flow before
coming off and Chris Taylor battled away at the back as usual. In midfield, skipper
for the day, Jordan Blake always looked threatening when in possession and set
up 2 of our goals, Paul Surtees gave another solid display and as mentioned - for
his goal, might not hit a ball so cleanly again in his life ! The look on his
face when he scored said it all ! "Bomber" Beasley had a useful game in the middle
of the park and added another goal to his tally despite loosing his boot towards
the end of the game - and you could see how much he enjoyed his goal ! Tom
Burnett had a promising game and passed the ball well, as well as showing huge
bravery for his goal from short range - and might have had a second. Zach Smith
carried on his excellent attitude and performances in training with a busy display
on the left flank. Up front, Callum Mackie worked hard and scored a well taken
goal to put us back in command at 4 - 2. Alex Turnbull scored two good goals,
could have had more and was a genuine thorn in the side of the WW defence for
the entire 90 minutes. Alix Young slotted in well at left back and gave another
good performance.
So - Barton go marching on for the time being. Y'day when we were good, we
were very good. At other times we looked less convincing, but this is all part
of it. Cold Ash are next up, when of course we will have captain Joe Ritchie
back in contention, followed by hard games in the Cup and then Theale. There
is literally "all to play for" at this stage of the season. There is no reason
why we cannot go on and do even better......... we must be looking for all round
improvement - individually and collectively - as the norm, and then lets see
where we finish up come the end of the season. We have the basic ability.
Attitude will be everything, as we enter the second half the season. Well done
Barton, another win, another good performance and 3 more points on the board....!
Reporting, live from a cold, wet and windy, yet happy Turnhams Farm........
and now handing you back to the studio, this is......
...... "Touch Line Dad"
U15s A
Theale Tigers 2 v 7 Barton Rovers A
After dominating the early stages Theale broke into Bartons
half and scored on their first attack. As we did last
week we kept cool pushed forward and soon equalised by a well taken
goal by Liam Reynolds.Two goals by Josh Shurvill, one a thumping
drive from outside the box and one straight from a corner and two
goals by Tommy, a poke in and a well taken chip from an angle made
it 5-1 at half time. In the second half Theale got a penalty early
on that was thumped home in style. Then soon after a sweetly struck
drive from outside the box from Louis made it 6 - 2 before Liam got
his second to finish the game 7-2. A great scoreline but we need
to pass the ball more, and work as a team.
U15s B
Barton Rovers 3 v 2 Westwood Wanderers
This was a very tough game against one of the teams who have already
beaten us this season. Westwood came flying out of the blocks and
were attacking all the time, but it took them 25 minutes
to break down the defence. Barton kept on playing and it looked as if
we would get a equaliser, but unfortunately Martin kicked the ball out
of his area and it held up in the wind and Westwood then chipped it over
the keeper from 25yds. It was 2-0 at halftime, in the second half we
had the wind and after 30secs Danny threw in a cross which went over
the keepers head and Mark D slotted it away with a header, Barton kept
attacking and soon afterwards Patrick went down the right and put the
ball below the keeper to make it 2-2. 10 minutes before the end once
again the midfield slipped the ball through the defence and Patrick ran
onto it and slipped it past the keeper. Final score 3-2. Well done boys,
no weekend off next weekend as we now have to play the leaders of division.
MOM Sean Bunting. Great Midfield play.
U11 Girls
Beaulieu Belles 0 v 15 Barton Rovers
Back to winning ways after only having one game
in 8 weeks. last week we had a friendly against Calcot boys
in which we got beat 12-0 so to lose a game did the girls good as they
were full of high spirits today. You all played well today, goals coming
from Shannon, Jade, Lauren, Kenzie, Rachel and Ellen. lets look forward
to a good 2007!
U11s C
Thatcham Tornadoes B 0 Barton Rovers C 6
All the boys were fantastic in this game against Thatcham Tornadoes
B. Sometimes it’s difficult to get into a flow when you use 11
players in a 40 minute 7 a-side game, but we stressed to the players
that they had to make the most of their minutes on the pitch. And they
did just that. Within 4 minutes we were a goal up courtesy of top scorer
Connor after Alex set him up with a great pass played out of defence.
Fellow forward Michael then struck a superb individual goal after waltzing
past three defenders. Still in the first half, Tristan thumped home from
a tight angle, Matthew finished off a fine attacking move and Michael
claimed his second goal of the game, converting a penalty after he was
brought down just inside the penalty area.
We kept up the pressure throughout the second half, but only added the
one goal. This is despite the fact that Thatcham had a player sent off.
However, their keeper was in great form and he kept the score down. He
couldn’t do anything about Connor’s second goal though. The
sending off, for a foul on Tristan, lead to the free kick that saw Connor
almost start his run on the next pitch he was so far away from goal.
He launched a glorious strike that sailed into the top of the net. 6-0!
Nathan was his usual steady self at the back, and didn’t miss
a tackle all game. Alex and Sean didn’t put a foot wrong either,
we really did look very solid. Poor Marc in goal didn’t get a touch
of the ball in second half. Joseph is starting to link up play with some
strong surging runs and Ryan has now done well over the last two games,
one great flick in particular set up a chance for Connor. Jordan was
superb, not only did he win a lot of the ball, he passed it very well
both in midfield and defence when we changed the team a round a bit.
Great stuff lads. Michael was our man of the match, while the parents
voted for Connor.
U12s B
Whiteknights - 1 v 4
Barton Rovers B
After a break of almost 2 months, the Under 12
B team eased back in to action on Sunday with a well measured and controlled
performance against a rapidly improving Whiteknights team. Looking a
bit ring rusty for the first ten minutes, Barton then stepped up a gear
towards the end of the first period, with the free scoring Callum Mackie
registering a quick fire double just before the break which put us firmly
in command. A number of substitutions either side of half time did not
seem to affect the pattern of our play and mid way through the second
half, the hard working Alex Turnbull ended a short barren spell with
a well taken third. Mackie then completed his hat trick with a simple
finish to an excellent move down the right, involving 4 Barton players.
Excellent efforts by Joe "Bomber" Beasley
and Jordan "Rooney" Blake could have seen Barton run away with
the game towards the end, but Whiteknights kept plugging
away and pulled back a goal right at the final whistle. All round, this
was a great performance from a team that in effect has not played a competitive
match since the middle of November.
All 15 squad members played thier
part and all made contributions in some shape form or manner.
Rob Sherwood looked increasingly confident in goal, Peter
Twyford was as solid as a rock at the back, Tom Burnett and Ben Hopkins
[who have waited patiently for thier opportunity] showed nice touches
in midfield. Alix Young played maybe his most accomplished game of the
season at left back and the Taylor boys shared duties down the right
flank with some aplomb throughout the game. Paul Surtees gave a bubbly
performance in the second half in particular and Joe Giles looked steady
and assured at the back. Joe Beasley showed some delightful passing throughout
the game and Jordan Blake sprayed the ball all around the pitch like
a veteran to turn in probably his best outing of the season to date.
Up front, as swell as his 3 goals, Callum Mackie was always a threat
and Alex Turnbull worked hard and deserved his goal. Zach Smith gave
good value up and down the left flank and Joe Ritchie played a real captains
game - he spurred his men on to victory with an all action display allied
to wise words of wisdom at the half time break. Rumours that Celtic have
been watching him are denied by the Barton management team but someone
looking like suspiciously like Gordon Strachan was seen walking away
from the ground at the end.
We will almost certainly face harder games
ahead of us, but this was a satisfying and well deserved
victory. We played some excellent football in the second
half in particular and if we can re create this standard in the next
few matches and make the most of our games in hand, we can start to zoom
up the table and end up the season in a highly credible position.
Lower
Earley look out of reach for us now unless they go completely
off the boil - but as we have said all along this is a highly
competitive division and "all can beat all" - what we learnt
from y'day was that all our squad can play a part in the rest of the
season. With so many games to catch up on, we will need the
full resources of the squad to sustain us for the rest of the season
and make full use of the "roll
on and roll off" system of substitutes used yesterday.
Full marks
to all the Barton team who were cheered on by a large travelling
away support despite the early KO time.
Reporting live and
direct from Bulmershe College Playing Fields, this is........
"Touchline
Dad"
..... now over to Goodison Park for today's other
big fixture.......are you there Andy Gray ???
U15s A
Eldon Celtic 3 v 3 Barton Rovers A
In a very tight first half, Eldon went in at half time
two nil up. In the second half Eldon increased their lead to go three
up. Then twenty minutes from the end Barton started to play football.
Louis Clarke started the comeback with a thumper from eight yards
soon followed by a blistering shot that was unstopable by Josh Helmore
from outside the box. It was all one way at the death when Bartons
man of the match Prince Bascom popped up at the far post to head
in a deserved equaliser.
U15s B
Caversham AFC Colts 0 Barton Rovers 2.
This was our first game in 4 weeks and it looked like it. We played
very poor in the 1st half, with no control or ball distribution from
our midfield, but our defence and espically our goalkeeper Martin pulled
off 4 point blank saves which kept us in the match at half time. At the
break the team were told where they were going wrong and they started
to grind down the home team. Danny then took the ball down the wing and
past the last defender before slotting the ball past the keeper after
65 minutes, 2 minutes later the home team had a goal kick which their
keeper hit off one of his own players and the ball fell to Arron who
hit a beautiful left footer straight into the corner of the net.
That was how the game finished. Hopefully we will play better
next weekend, but a win is a win and we are now in the next round of
the cup.
MOM Martin Holloway. Well Done lads
U15s B
Barton Rovers 5 v 4 Twyford Comets
This was a clash of top of the table versus 3rd.
The game started off at a fast pace with both teams determined to play
good football and win. Unfortunately after 5 mins Twyford scored, but
the team lifted their heads and Patrick scored an equaliser, then Twyford
scored again.
Danny then took the ball down the wing and throw
in a high ball which Arron E put away with a beautiful header. Then CJ
unfortunately scored a own goal from a long throw in, but once again
we got behind each other and scored an equaliser through Danny. So it
was 3-3 at halftime.
We then had some drinks and mince pies while the
parents had mulled wine and stress tablets.
So came the second half once again we attacked and Danny
put in another good cross which Arron scored a very
good header, we then took our eye off the ball and they
then scored another equaliser. With 6 mins to go Patrick chased
a back pass which he was never going to get, unfortunately
their keeper took his eye off the ball and it went passed him and
so Patrick had a tap in to make it 5-4.
The boys were tremendous with the best football
yet. Man of the Match Chris Holley. Lets look forward to the
start of a new year and more of the good football.
U11 Girls
Reading Girls 0 v 7 Barton Rovers
Well done girls we heard you won today, we can't write a match report
as we were on holiday but you did us proud. Hatricks from
Ellen and Rachel and a goal from Jade. Girl of the match
was Lauren who was excellent in defence. Thanks to Paul for running the
team today.
Under 11s A
Barton Rovers 4 v 1Cold Ash
Very cold to start the day, still a little bit of frost lying when people
started arriving pitch side. The sun was shining though and the pitch
was soft enough so, after several weeks worth of cancellations, the match
got the green light!
The first few minutes started with both teams working hard to get possession
and forge openings. They both had early efforts but none were on target
and goal kicks made for easy clearances. With around five minutes gone
Rovers broke quickly down the right and, seeing that the Cold Ash defence
was looking stretched, Wayman made straight for goal. He beat his man
well and slipped the ball past the keeper to give Rovers an early lead. read
more
Under 15s B
Thatcham Town 1 Barton Rovers B 2.
This game should never had taken place, as the
pitch was waterlogged and there had previously been 2 games
on before, but what a game it turned out to be.
Barton Rovers dominated the whole 80mins, with some of the
best football I have ever seen played by this team. It was all 1 touch
football, perfect passing and support playing and cracking shots on goal,
but unfortunaterly their keeper was having a blinder of a game.
Thatcham attacked once and scored first in the 10th minute,
but we replied almost instantly with a goal from Patrick.
The heavens then opened and it rained down. In the second
half we had the wind, but every time we shot the keeper saved brilliantly,
the pitch was cutting up terribly and was in a poor state but both teams
still tried to play football. Mark Driver eventually scored after 70
minutes with an unstoppable shot.
That is how it finished.
A big thank you to all the parents (who were penguins at
the end) who froze and were well soaked for all their support. Great
game boys.
MOM Vikram Singh.
U11 Girls
Barton Rovers 10 v 0 Sandhurst Town Sirens
BARTON GIRLS MAKE IT TO THEIR 100TH LEAGUE GOAL!!!
Girls what a game, excellent passing, awareness, support just overall
excellent. We have now got 101 goals well done and well done Amber for
another clean sheet. You are all improving game after game and it is
great to watch. Unfortunately after only a few minutes Chloe went in
for a brave challenge and ended up having to come off and get taken to
hosiptal, she had an x-ray and she has broken her collar bone. So we
all wish her a speedy recovery and to feel better soon.
U11A
Twyford 0 v 5 Barton Rovers
A perfect morning for the match, sunny and bright but cool with the
early frost all gone. After a couple of weeks since the last competitive
game everyone was looking forward to this morning to see if the lads
could continue their much improved performance. read
more
U11C
Barton Rovers C 0 v 0 Caversham AFC Cobras
We’ve played Caversham AFC Cobras twice in the last three weeks
and both games have ended 0-0. Today, as in the first game, we created
a whole host of chances. In summary, we had about eight good efforts
that were mainly saved by the Cobras keeper who had much more to do than
Marc. To be fair most of the shots we had were directly at him, so we
didn’t get the opportunity to test him properly, but credit is
due because he positioned himself well in the goal. That said we also
had three tap in opportunities including one open goal. In the first
half Connor also found himself 1 on 1 with the keeper but he pulled his
shot fractionally wide of the far post. At the other end Caversham very
nearly grabbed all three points with the very last kick of the game,
when they had a fantastic opportunity blocked in front of our goal by
Nathan. The ball spun off him and up and over the cross bar, when in
fact it looked for a moment that it had dropped into the net. Thankfully
not, for us!
The positive thing from this game is that we created
lots of chances and had many players taking up good positions.
Specific
points from the game were: for the first time we used all
eleven players in one game. Joseph made his debut and looked good on
the left wing in the second half. He caused problems going forward and
created several good openings for himself and Connor especially. Jordan
ran his socks off for 30 minutes, he won the ball loads and he just seemed
to be everywhere, he really earned the parents man of the match award.
Tristan played the right side well, and looked comfortable when he slotted
in at the back for 10 minutes. Defensively we looked very sound indeed,
and kept a second clean sheet in a row. Managers’ man of the match
Nathan, together fellow defenders Alex and Sean looked at
ease throughout, and Marc was always on hand to gather the odd loose
ball. Further up the field Matthew and Michael combined well, and Ryan
had a shot that the keeper fumbled for a corner.
Someone forgot to phone the result through (slapped wrist me), but with
this point and the three from last week not yet chalked up on the table,
we have enough points and goals (+20) to make 2nd place.
U12B
Barton Rovers Under 12 B 3v5
Boyne Hill
Our recent run of good form came to an end on Sunday after a thrilling
game against the high flying Boyne Hill. A 5 - 3 defeat against such
a good team is no disgrace and the reaction of the Boyne Hill camp showed
how much it meant to them to put one over us - while we know that we
can still play better than this.
A glorious morning up at Base Camp Turnhams [and yes, we
even managed to get the nets up on time thanks to Andy
Young's marvellous piece of "net hooking" technology" !!]
saw Barton tear in to the oppo with a quick double strike
by top scorer Callum Mackie which put us in a commanding
2 - 0 lead before Boyne Hill struck back with two well
taken goals to make it 2 - 2 at half time. Boyne Hill then
went 3 - 2 ahead before an absolute screamer from Peter
Twyford saw us draw level again to make it 3 - 3 with just
less than 10 minutes to go. A draw might well have been
a fair result, but to give BH full credit, they kept pressing
for the winner in the last few minutes before sealing it
off with a 5th with the last kick of the game. At the end
of all this, we only had done to us what we have been doing
to other teams in the last few weeks. So we know what it
feels like - and we need to display lots of positive character
- individually and collectively - to get back to how we
know we can play.....
From the Barton point of view, the 4th and 5th goals from
BH were a kick in the teeth, but we must take the positives
from this and learn from the negatives - for 20 minutes,
we outgunned one of the best teams in the league and despite
loosing our way for the next phase of the game had the
character to come back from 3 - 2 down to get on level
terms. There were some excellent individual performances
and all 14 players made a contribution.
If there was a disappointment, it would have been that
we stopped doing all the good things we know we need to
[and clearly can !] do. This not least allowed BH back
in to the game - and once the momentum was with them they
were never going to give it up lightly. Our insistence
on trying to "do it ourselves" rather than keep
the ball moving quickly and accurately saw us put ourselves
under pressure in a way we need not do - and our failure
to communicate effectively across the pitch when things
started to go against us is something we need to work at
in training - and we will !
But this is not the end of the world - it was our first
defeat since the second game of the season and we are still
in a handy position in the league. What it did underline,
was the highly competitive nature of the division we are
in this season and the fact we need to play at approaching
our best for the entire game. We will probably learn more
from our defeat than we might do in victory from time to
time. Next up are Cold Ash - again no mean team, with a
huge squad to choose from - but a chance for us to get
back on track as long as we are prepared to work hard in
training and realise that this is a squad game - with all
getting the chance to perform over a period if time. What
is done with that chance is largely down to the individual
of course !
A defeat - yes - disappointing for everyone - yes - but
the end of the world - certainly not - lets take the positives
and learn from the negatives. There is still a huge amount
of football to be played this season and one defeat [against
a good and strong outfit] does not turn us into a bad team.
We have shown we can compete against anyone in this league
- but it will never be easy - and so lets go and give it
110% against Cold Ash next week and see what happens. What
we will need is bags of positive attitude and concentration
throughout the game - we have the skill and talent - but
it goes without saying that we need to put it altogether
to get the results we are capable of. Go, Barton, go !
Reporting from Turhams Farm..........
Touchline Dad
U13A
Westwood 1 v 1 Barton
Barton enetered the game on a
run of much improved results and performances and were confident in getting
something from the game.
Barton started the game postively and dominated
the forst 15 minutes of play with some slick passing and
movement. It was therefore a big surprise that with Westwood's
first attack they managed to take the lead. It was probably their only
passing move of the game and was a well taken goal which shook the boys
confidence.
Attacking up hill for the second half and 1-0 down
it was a big task but Barton continued to play the passing
football that we have been accustomed to and in hitting the post and
having a goal dis-allowed for a dubious offside it looked like we would
never score.
However a strong run by Robbie and a never say
die effort to cross the ball set up Jack Purser to squeeze
the ball over the line for a totally deserved equaliser.
Both side went
for the winner and after a number of strange free kick
decisions Barton found themselves bombarded with long free
kicks.
It was a great performance by Barton and a good
first match for Shak. We can really push on from here and the next 4
games will set out the rest of the season for the team.
U15As
Barton Rovers A 8 v 0 Theale Tigers
A dominent Barton started the
game at pace whitch paid off after eight mins with a well taken goal
by Tommy Elmore.With some great passing and lots of one touch football
many more chances were made and goals from, Louis Clarke, Josh Helmore,
Josh Shurvill, Ross Forster and a hat trick from Antonio D'Onofrio put
a brave Theale Tigers on the back foot.Some outstanding goalkeeping by
the Tigers kept the score down. Man of the match for Barton was George
Batts for his vision and passing.
U11 Girls
Barton Rovers 3-1 Winnersh Rangers
ANOTHER WIN!!!
Today was the day we were looking forward to having never
played Winnersh before and they were winning games like we
were. One of our best games so far. The girls put so much
effort into everything they did today and we were 1-0 up
after about 7 minutes to an unfortunate own goal.
We were
putting pressure onto Winnersh and if it wasn't for the
brave Winnersh goalie we would have got more. Jade added
another to make it 2-0 just before half time.
Second
half started slowly with end to end stuff and Amber the
goalie eventually got a bit of action for the first time this
season. As we have so many defenders Lauren went on to
have a go up front and scored within 2 minutes of being on.
Ten
seconds to go and Winnersh got a free kick just outside
the area and it hit one of our players and went in, with
the final score being 3-1. Girls of the match were Rachel
and Ellen for running their socks off in midfield. well done
girls, a hard game but we pulled through. TOP OF THE TABLE!!!!!
U11C
Boyne Hill Vipers 0 v 5 Barton Rovers
Barton Rovers C ran out comfortable 5-0 winners away at Boyne Hill Vipers
who had previously only conceded six goals all season. Although we had
to weather some sustained early pressure in the opening 5 minutes we
soon got into our stride and created a couple of chances for ourselves.
Midway through the first half we scored a wonder goal. Alex sent a long
throw up the left hand line which was flicked on. The ball was zipped
over to Tristan on the other side of the pitch and he took a touch before
delivering a pin point cross which Matthew drilled home, on the half
volley, across the home keeper.
In the second half we went 2-0 ahead following another flowing move.
This time our movement and passing was quicker and shorter. Tristan played
in Matthew, who in turn fed Michael. He rounded the keeper and slotted
the ball home. Shortly after Tristan sent a looping shot towards the
goal. The ball seemed to hang in the air for ages until Vipers keeper
palmed it onto the cross bar and over for a corner. By this time we were
playing some of our best football ever, pass and move, pass and move.
If we lost the ball Jordan would go and win it back for us. It was quite
breathtaking to watch. At the back we were very sound: Alex and Nathan
were in great form, really calm and in the right place at the right time.
Marc was dominant in his penalty area, making one very brave save at
the feet of a Boyne Hill striker on a rare foray into our box. His goalkicking
was excellent once again.
We scored three goals in the final 10 minutes.
Connor was rested for 5 minutes prior to this and within 60 seconds of
coming back on had the ball in the back of the net to make it 3-0. Jordan
played him in and he thumped the ball home across the keeper. It was
4-0 soon after when Jordan struck at the far post following a corner.
We could have scored a lot more - Connor hit the woodwork and the Vipers
keeper made some very good saves in between 2 efforts being hacked off
the line. Boyne Hill were defending very well, but they couldn't prevent
our 5th goal. Connor slipped a pass to Michael who made no mistake at
the second attempt. An emphatic victory was wrapped up, but Marc still
needed to protect the clean sheet when he saved a rocket shot after Vipers
broke on us near the end. Tristan was the managers man of the match.
The parents award went to Matthew. But to be honest everyone played at
such an exceptional level that the decisions were the hardest made this
season. Well done lads, remarkable performance.
5th November 2006
U11 Girls
Barton Rovers 5 v 0 Farnham Town Vixens
First round of the cup!!
Some excellent play today,
you showed us you can do some really good moves, it could
have been more if it wasn't for that post!!
I wonder who we get in the next round!
U11C
Barton Rovers C 0 v 2 AFC Newbury
Despite creating the bulk of the chances in the first half, we didn’t
have quite enough about us to stamp sufficient authority on this game
against AFC Newbury. Newbury are a big side with lots of pace, and we
didn’t really close them down enough when we needed to.
Top scorer
Connor had most of our efforts after he raced through several
times, and even though he went close, we just couldn’t find the net. However
at one point it did look like we had squeezed the ball over the line,
but the goal wasn’t given and instead we leaked one at our end,
the visitors scoring from a corner, because they were first to latch
onto a loose ball.
Even though we had decent amounts of possession in the second half,
we still couldn’t make a breakthrough. All too often we either
took the ball on too far, or just ran in to a wall of players. On other
occasions we poked the ball wide.
Jordan looked lively in midfield, but
he had to go off midway trough the second half following
an injury to his knee. Michael linked up well with Connor, Tristan was
asked to do a lot of work in midfield and defence (err, obviously not
at the same time), and Matthew made good progress on the left. Sean did
really well at the back when he came on, and his performance will do
his confidence a lot of good. We did give the ball away cheaply at times,
and when Newbury came forward Alex was in outstanding form, volleying
clearances away and marshalling his defence superbly – a real captains performance,
by far his best of the season. He was deservedly the managers’ choice
for man of the match while the ever busy Michael took the parents award.
U12B
Barton Rovers U 12 B 3 v 3
Thatcham Tornadoes
Barton Under 12 B stretched their unbeaten run to 4 games with a hard
fought 3 - 3 draw against a well organised and talented Thatcham outfit.
Once again, we started slowly and fell behind to 2 early goals, but showed
great character and no little skill in forcing a deserved draw.
While we never really took control of the game at any stage,
we more than made up for this with some stout defending
and plenty of hard work right across the team. Callum Mackie
added to his total to notch is 8th and 9th goals of the
season and the ever busy Zach Smith added a well deserved
third, with a coolly taken shot near the end of the game
- a strike which saw us gain a share of the spoils.
Barton never really got our slick passing game going, but we still managed
to create a number of other good chances once we pegged Thatcham back
to 1 - 2 just before half time. Alex Turnbull went close with a brave
header at the far post. Long range efforts from Joe Beasley and Jordan
Blake also went near to seeing us sneaking in to the lead. And as the
game wore on, we looked steadier at the back as George Taylor, Ali Young
and Ben Hopkins all got to grips with the lively Thatcham front line.
Joe Ritchie kept plugging away in midfield and Tom Burnett made some
telling contributions after coming on as sub. Rob Sherwood in goal looked
more assured as the game went on and dealt with most things that came
his way in the second half.
At the end of the day, a draw was probably a fair result.
Once again, this was a great team effort with all 14 players
involved contributing to the overall performance. Peter
Twyford had an excellent game at the heart of the back
4 and George Lewington also made some timely interventions
as the game entered the final stages - one tackle right
at the end, as Thatcham threatened to snatch a late winner,
was crucial.
All in all, this was probably a point won rather than two points lost
! It just shoes how competitive our division is going to be for the rest
of the season - but at the same time, that there is no reason at all
why we cannot do well come the spring time.
Lessons to be gained from this - always ! We must get focused
earlier on in the game and look to get in to our stride
as soon as we can - communication and getting the ball
under control and starting to pass it around as we can
do, are all part of this, and something we will work at
in training. It also showed that this is a hard working
and spirited team with plenty of guts and determination,
allied to no little skill. At 2 - 0 down, we were looking
down the barrel - but as in recent weeks, we fought back
through a combination of plenty of huff and puff and some
good football.
Lets keep this going lads and see where we end up towards the end of
the season. Well done to all !
Touchline Dad
U11 Girls
Barton Rovers 11 v 0 Beaulieu Girls
Well done girls another solid performance, you
played really well together. Unlucky not to get more as Beaulieu
keeper was very good so thats 88 goals in 7 games- AMAZING!!!!!
U11 A
Barton Rovers 1 v 2 AFC Caversham
Another nice day for a match, sunny but cool -
with a gentle breeze blowing across the pitch. Everyone was looking forward
to this game after last weeks much improved performance. read
more
U11C
Caversham AFC Cobras 0 Barton Rovers C 0
Barton Rovers C found it tough going at Caversham AFC Cobras. The game
finished 0-0 but we could have taken the points in the final minute when
Matthew Langham’s curling shot looked destined for the back of
the net only to be headed off the line. In the first half our best chances
came from managers’ man of the match, Connor Yarde, who tested
the home keeper with several rasping shots and strike partner Michael
Drake who came close after jinking his way through 3 defenders in the
Caversham penalty area. Midfielder Tristan Evans picked up the parent's
man of the match award after a stirring first half which saw him playing
the right hand line very well, however after being camped in their half
for most of the opening 20 minutes we couldn’t score that vital
first goal.
Caversham appeared to have a good game plan, and they played to it better
than we played to ours. They were first to most of the loose balls and
when they broke on us, they came forward quickly, and supported each
other really well. This was something we didn’t do so well ourselves,
sometimes we needed the nearby option and a simple pass rather than trying
to beat one too many players to create some space. We took the ball on
just that little | 
