Mike
Sam Toby Ian Batts
Laurie Richie Al Nick
John R
Adam
Sub: Gareth
Barely Athletic arrested their early-season slump in form with a hard-earned point over the Severn in Mathern. With key players Danny, Jacko and the two Pauls (Loftus and Tovey) absent, not mention long-term casualties Tom and Sir Jim, and it was down to the bare bones. Stepping up to the plate for his Barely debut was Toby, thrown in at the deep end by partnering Ian at centre-back. Al also returned to the fray after a long absence. With Gareth desperately covering the miles fro Winchester - surely some sort of prize for dedication to the cause there? - Mike stepped into the sticks at a delayed kick-off.
Mathern made the early running. You wouldn't say Barely were swamped, but forays forward were few and far between during the first ten minutes. Gradually they worked their way into the game and even managed a shot - courtesy of Richie - but on the whole it was Mathern's half, even if Mike was only called upon to collect the odd shot trundling straight at him. Gareth arrived and after the briefest of warm-ups took Mike's place in goal, just in time to see Mathern step up the pace a little. There was a flurry of attacks and one of them led to the goal - Mathern broke through the middle and although Gareth got down well to block the ball, it ricocheted off him and inside the near post.
Half-time came with Barely feeling they had perhaps a bit more to offer. Although it had been Mathern's half they hadn't really looked like scoring - until they did of course. We have to give them that.
The rolling subs routine was up and running and Barely upped their game in the second half, possibly unlucky not to get a penalty when Richie was barged to the ground. Though Mathern were still breaking forward, the Barely back line usually got the upper hand. However their counterparts at the other end of the pitch were similarly dominant - for now. As legs began to tire Adam embarked on a series of runs as the likes of Richie and Nick dinked balls over the top for him to chase. Once he even set off courtesy of a back-pass and was erroneously ruled off-side.
But the Barely goal came out of sheer persistence - Al and Sam combined to win the ball back on the right, and Sam sent a ball into the box. Adam clambered past a defender and shot - the keeper saved, but the ball bounced to the feet of John Rosetti, who finished with aplomb, more than justifying Batt's shrewd decision to play him as a number ten. 1-1, and with not a great deal of time left in the game, both sides went for a winner, and both back lines matched each other for obduracy. Aside from the challenge on Richie and a couple of Adam dribbles, Mathern held firm. And the away team similarly kept attempts on Gareth's goal to a minimum.
A game played on a splodgy pitch came to a close with honours as even as the spread of mud on Adam's knees. Man of the Match voting reflected a very good team performance with a wide spread that included new boy Toby and returnees Al and Gareth. Rejoicing in their shared victory (two votes each) were Adam, John and Sam. More importantly though Barely have shown that they don't have to lose every game between not and 2020 by five goals to nil. Well done everyone!
