Barley Mow Wanderers F.C

Barley Mow Wanderers 2-2 Fortress FC

Match Report.

Barley's first Beacon League match in severn weeks was a big one as fellow promotion rivals Fortress visited The Dormston. The rain had knocked off by the time by the time the visitors were ready to kick-off at 2.30pm and the opponents had just enough to field a side so Barley's club captain "Eagle Eyed Hill" stood in as there assistant referee. Fortress started the game looking to get at Barley early but it was Barley who got in the first effort. 4minutes in and a snap shot heading wide from Wollaston ended up with Hale who tested the keeper forcing a low down save. A minutes later though and it was Fortress who were celebrating Sewell caught out of place and a ball through the middle left the Fortress striker clear to knock the ball high past a disppearing Pickett 0-1. From there on Barley dominated the match passing the ball well and battling hard but without finding that killer ball as Fortress defended resolutely. Carwright and Wollaston both had half-chance hits at the goal before the half hour when Fortress had a splendid chance saved by Picketts legs. Barley created there best chance of the half five minutes before the break, a free-kick whipped in by Cartwright found Porters head at the far post by his point blank effort was pushed wide by the Fortress keeper. Half Time 0-1. Barley came out in the second half knowing that if they carried on the playing the way they did in the first half a goal would come there way. Fortress however nearly wrapped things up moments after the restart but another fine Pickett save kept Barley in the game. Barleys first real chance of the second period fell to subsitute Blakeway on 64minutes but he sliced the ball wide from six yards. Eventually 14minutes from time Barley got reward for all there hard work, a Cartwright free-kick was not dealt with and after bobbling around in the six yard box the ball fell to Blakeway who side footed the ball into the corner of the net from eight yards. Barley were now in the driving seat and felt they could win it but five minutes from the end some flashy footwork from Fortress was finished with a low drive from the edge of the box to make it 1-2, surely game over. Barley never lay down and continued to fight and after a short delay for the referee booking a Fortress player for a late lunge of Richard Hale, Cartwright swung if a free-kick that was meet by the head of Hickman who put the ball away from close range. Barley still pushed on could have had a winner but the assistants flag was raised against Blakeway as he misfired the ball wide from three yards. Overall a good display and Barley satisfied with a point.

League Tables.