Barnton 5 Middlewich Town 0

President's Cup semi-final

TOWN took yet another heavy beating at the hands of local rivals Barnton as they crashed out of the President's Cup at the semi-final stage.

The first 20 minutes of the game was stalemate, with Town defending well and with Brian Nicholson in outstanding form at the heart of Middlewich's defence.

But then Mark Emmerson took a free-kick on the edge of Town's 18-yard box and with superb accuracy he beat the stranded Coleman as the ball hit the back of the net.

You could see the Middlewich players' heads drop from that moment - that is, apart from Nicholson, who grew in stature as the game progressed.

Barnton's second goal came from a Middlewich free-kick, taken by Ingham, who floated a ball into Barnton's penalty area. The ball was cleared to the half-way line where Milne picked it up and played a ball over Ostrowka to Hennin, who blasted his shot past Coleman.

Middlewich had still to test Fortune in Barnton's goal when Paul Lambert made it 3-0 just before half time.

Emmerson floated in a corner and Lambert bulleted his header into the top corner of the net.

Town manager Dave Twite made two chances at the interval, bringing on Simon Wilson and Alan Woan for Ostrowka and Rowland.

And Woan was quickly into the action, playing a 40-yard ball to Fuller, who shot on the run but Fortune smothered.

Middlewich were trying desperately to get back into the game but Barnton's superiority showed again when Hennin headed down from an Emmerson cross and Dave Dale was on hand to fire low past Coleman to put the game beyond any doubt.

Middlewich brought on Steve Bond for Gareth Langley, who was making his last appearance before joining Winsford United, and all the Middlewich players and management gave the youngster a great send-off despite the result, by applauding him off.

Bond, with his first touch, had a 20-yard shot tipped over by Fortune.

With the game drawing to an end Broadigan crossed from the left, beating Coleman's outstretched fingers, and Hennin got his second with an easy tap-in at the far post.

Man of the match: Mark Emmerson.

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