Barnton 7 Poynton 0

Green Mid Cheshire One

Saturday, April 7

BARNTON went back to the top of the Mid Cheshire League and took pole position from shell-shocked opponents Poynton in the process.

This match, the first of two between the teams which could effectively decide the title, was switched due to the better condition of the Townfield Lane pitch.

But how Poynton must have wished their ground was fit as they conceded both home advantage and a deluge of goals in this one-sided affair.

However, this was only the case for the last hour, as it took Barnton 34 minutes to break the deadlock of a so-far tight contest.

Guy Groves, whose departure with a suspected broken ankle was the afternoon's only black spot, played the ball to Adrian Brodigan, whose cross-cum-shot dropped underneath the crossbar at the far post.

On 41 minutes David Dale scored the first of his four when John Hawley crossed for him to tap in from six yards.

The game was effectively killed off a minute into the second half when Will Killey was brought down on the right edge of the box and Brodigan sent the free-kick low into the corner for his second goal from a wide position.

Williams wasted Poynton's best chance to get back into the game in the 50th minute by firing wide with only Derrick Fortune to beat, and after this they fell apart.

Dale completed his hat-trick by adding two penalties to the tally, given for fouls on himself and Milne in the 57th and 65th minutes.

Adam Foy made break from his own half 10 minutes from time and although he was tackled, the goalkeeper fumbled the ball into his path for an easy finish.

Another substitute, Gareth Langley, provided the goal which took Barnton into seventh heaven, his lob seven minutes from the end hitting the bar and dropping for Dale to finish.

Following the Mid Cheshire District Saturday Cup final against Vics Reserves at the Drill Field tonight (Wednesday), Barnton have a home league game against Whitchurch Alport on Saturday (3pm), before going to Chorlton Town on Wednesday.

Barnton: Fortune, Starchievski, Groves (Jones 78), Hawley, Nelson, Milne, Killey (Langley 67), Dale, Miranda (Foy 55), Brodigan, Tomlinson.