Middlewich Town 0

Barnton 3

Mid Cheshire One

Saturday, January 13

WITH one quality second half display, Barnton continued their push for the Mid Cheshire League title and at the same time surely ended the hopes of their opponents.

Also satisfying for manager Mark Emmerson was making up for the three points his side dropped with a home defeat to Middlewich in September.

The scoreline didn't really reflect the pattern of the match overall, but Barnton deserved it for the way they gained momentum throughout a scrappy tussle.

This was particularly the case in the first half when the fight for midfield supremacy was only broken up by a handful of chances.

Les Miranda came closest for Barnton midway through the half but scuffed his shot wide just yards from the goal of his former club.

Barnton took the lead in the 54th minute when John Hawley latched on to Adrian Brodigan's free-kick and forced the ball in at the post despite the close attentions of Paul Quine.

On 72 minutes the points were all but secure when Adam Foy broke down the left and delivered a cross which was driven home by the onrushing Mark Tomlinson.

Foy's fresh legs also provided the third. It arrived 10 minutes from time, another good cross from the youngster this time headed in by Murphy.

Cheadle Heath are the visitors to Townfield Lane in the league this Saturday (2.15pm).

Barnton: Fortune, Starchievski, Fraser, Jones, Hawley (Nelson 60), Gee, Milne (Foy), Murphy, Miranda (Langley 78), Brodigan, Tomlinson.