Barely cleaned out by Bathelona

Barely Athletic 0 Bathelona 3

Goal: Steve

Defence: Rich B, Phil, Tom, Danny

Midfield: Nick, Jim, Sam, Mani

Attack: Richie, Lefils

Subs: Mike, Paul

Spectators: Bob and dog.

This game, like a particularly well-sprung peg, was tighter than it first appears. Granted, Barely can have no cause to grumble about the result, but had they taken all their chances they would have come away with at least a point. The crossbar shuddered twice after goalmouth melees in the Bathelona box, efforts were cleared off the line, and Richie's finishing on a hat-trick of chances was unusually wayward.

The game klcked off late after both teams debated the wisdom of playing on what was literally frozen ground. They agreed that an extra few minutes of sun before kick-off would do no harm, and began with the caveat that Paul (refereeing at this stage) would stop the clock after ten minutes and see if everyone was happy to continue. The score being 0-0 at that point, and everyone's limbs intact, it turned out they were.

Barely welcomed the return of the scampering goal-machine that is Lefils, which boosted a pretty strong line-up bearing in mind stalwarts Rich Jackson and Andy Lillford were both missing. And as the game began, things were pretty even. Bathelona probably won the first ten minutes on points, but as the half wore on Barely were working their way into the game. The potentially bad news of both Nick and Sam limping off injured was shrugged aside as with Mike and Paul on as replacements, Barely had probably their best period of the game for the last 20 minutes of the first half. Bathelona had been restricted to three efforts at goal, all gobbled up by Steve. Worryingly though, they were on target, whereas the otherwise excellent Mani and Richie put their chances wide. A shot across Bathelona's bow, or a wild roundhouse that left Barely wide open?

Please bear with us as we mix metaphors.

At half time Barely knew they were, if not on top, then at least shading things, and certainly better than the last time they played Bathelona. But the break had also given the opposition a chance to regroup, and it was Bathelona who opened the scoring early in the second half. A cross came in that Phil attempted to chest back to Steve, but the bounce was awkward, the contact slippy, and the skidding ricochet fell kindly for Bathelona's right-winger, who had shrewdly gambled and made the run. His contact was weak too, but enough to see it bounce over Steve and into the net for the lead.

Barely rallied, but the Bathelona defence were more disciplined in this half and, the crossbar shaking aside, the home team could not trouble the goalkeeper unduly. At the other Bathelona seemed intent on scoring every 8 minutes as they plonked a shot past Steve and in off the post, and another saw the ball squeeze under the diving Barely sticksman to seal the points. Unsurprisingly Barely's head's drooped a little at 2-0, sensing the parsimony of the Bathelona back line wasn't going to allow a comeback. But of course they kept pushing, and probably finished the game the stronger side - albeit vulnerable to the counter-attack, and grateful to Danny and Phil for a couple of last-ditch clearances.

So back to square one it is. Barely were shivering as they left Keynsham yesterday, and it wasn't just the cold. The hardest teams in division one may be out of the way, but Barely have 2 points from three games, and zero momentum. But then again, no-one will play a game for about three months now - if the great leveller that is the Bristol winter has anything to do with it. So come March, a new leaf, a clean slate, and the bell rings for round five with Barely behind on points but far from out of it.

Man of the Match went to Jim, though the Barely Reporter would also like to note considerable defensive contributions from - well, the whole back line, and salute Paul and Mike's impact.