Albert Steele Game 4

Albert Steele Game 4

Barnton B 0-7 Egerton Panthers

5 Star Oldbury Smashed Barnton

With the memory of the high scoring result from the previous week still in the mind of the Panthers, they set about their work of gaining another three points like a steam train. Adam Lee looked lively early on, running and snapping at the heels of the Barnton midfield, forcing them into mistakes. Early chances fell to lethal predator Ollie Oldbury who was finding his range, testing the keeper with a few half chances that were well saved. It was all Egerton in the opening stages and the break through finally came when a long ball out of defence looped over the Barnton back line, Ollie reacted quickest to race onto the ball and neatly curl it around the on rushing keeper 1-0. The Panthers didn't stop there, the Barnton heads seem to drop and for the second week running Egerton smelt blood and went for the kill. The second came in spectacular fashion, following being awarded a corner, man of the moment Ollie Oldbury took the corner and somehow found the far corner of the net! The look of surprise on everyone's face was quickly followed by cheers and celebration. Defensive due Andy and Ben seemed to be having another quiet morning but still had to be on their guard as the Panthers pushed too far up the field trying to increase the score. A third goal was coming and it did courtesy of the bravery of Adam Lee, Ollie whipped a corner to the far post for Adam to attack and fire into the goal. 3-0. Luke and Alex then replaced Leo and Ollie 5 mins before half time to continue the pressure on the Barnton goal but to no avail as the whistle blew for half time with the score 3-0 HT
The second half started slowly, with the pitch playing its part in a bitty first 5 mins, Ed was his usual outstanding self, finding acres of space in midfield to dictate the play however he saw fit. The re-introduction of Ollie and Leo 12 minutes from time seemed to spark the Panthers back into life, but the main man causing all the problems in the second half was Oliver Howarth, twisting and turning his way down the right wing and firing a few nice crosses toward the penalty spot. The Panthers lead was extended shortly after. Leo found space in the box to get his toe to the ball and poke the ball past the keeper 4-0. Mitch was looking uninterested in goal having spent most of the game as a spectator so was more than happy when asked to play centre mid for the last 10. His snapping tackles were all Barnton needed and he could have had his name on the score sheet had his long range effort been either side of the keeper. The lead was increased shortly after when Leo hit a long range shot which the keeper spilled to ollie to the left of the goal. Finding himself with his back to goal he improvised and back heeled the ball past the keeper 5-0. The game was over as a contest but the Panther kept pushing and were rewarded late on when Ollie found space not once but twice to fire past the keeper and take his tally in the game to 5 and the overall score to 7-0. The boys were pleased with their performance at the final whistle and a few red faces showed that everyone had put a shift in. Avoid defeat in the last group game and its quarter finals here we come. FT 7-0.
Team Mitch-Ben Has-Luke-Leo-Ed-Andy-Adam-Ollie-Oliver-Alex

Barnton A 1-1 Egerton Pumas

Hargreaves Bags Late Leveller

This top of the table clash would indicate who would qualify as winners of the group and both teams looked up for a battle, and a battle it was. Both teams began strongly, Jacko chasing everything down that went near their defence, Bradley and Ben working like animals in midfield, trying to get the passing game going that has seen them win 3 of their last 3 games. The pitch was poor and the Pumas were understandably struggling to zip the ball about, the ball bobbling over divots making it impossible in some cases to know where the ball was heading. Matt had to be in fine form today, making a few telling saves in the first half. Stan was showing some nice turns and was linking with Jacko successfully up front, but everything that was thrown at Barnton was repelled by their towering defender Conner, sticking out a leg here and there when it looked like we might be in on goal. The battle was heating up and a stud on the knee of Bradley seemed to knock the stuffing out of him. You could see by looking at both teams the reason they were deadlocked at the top of green group A, every position filled with talented footballers, none of whom though could break the deadlock before half time 0-0.
With an injury to his knee, Bradley was replaced at half time by Isaac, who helped with what was becoming a tense match. Matt stepped up once again when a neat turn by the Barnton striker saw him through 1 on 1, Matt kept himself big until the last moment before deflecting the ball wide of his outstretched leg, he didn't know much about it, but the best keepers never do. With playmaker Hargreaves off the pitch, Barnton took advantage and following a clever pass in the box, the Barnton striker could do nothing more than slot the ball into the bottom corner 1-0 advantage Barnton. With the clock ticking down and no "fit" players on the bench Bradley chirped up that he wanted to come back on, after making sure he was ok, the gaffer threw him back into the mixer. This looked to re-energise the Pumas and they began to put Barnton under pressure. A long ball from the Pumas defence seemed destined for a goal kick when Isaac somehow managed to race onto it and strike it towards goal from a near impossible angle before it could go out, simply save for the keeper? No, the effort must have caught him by surprise and the ball squirmed underneath him, as the Pumas looked up, racing onto the loose ball was Bradley to tap the ball into an empty net and send the parents into raptures, all the boys celebrating what could prove to be a huge goal in the race for the Albert Steele. Both teams managed to continue the battle for the last couple of minutes but when the final whistle blew everyone who witnessed this tough match were of the same opinion, fair result FT 1-1
Team Matt-Isaac-Tom-Freddie-Bradley-Jack-Ben Hen-Stan.