Despite outplaying Barton from start to finish for the third time this season, we ended up being beaten by them for the third time this season. We gave them a lesson in football, they have us a lesson in finishing.

Team: (4-4-2)
Mo;
Mitch (capt), Dan, Rev, Jack K
Nya, Gerry, Jorge, Zach,
Adam, Luke

Mitch was skipper for the day as he made his 100th Pastures appearance, with Mo and Luke both back in the side for the first time in 2010. Pastures started in confident style, completely dominating the first half, playing good football and getting forward in numbers.
We came close 4 times in the first 10 minutes, as Barton struggled to get out of their own half. Adam and Zach’s neat near post corner routine in the third minute forced a save out of the keeper and as the ball came out, Jack struck a left foot shot inches over the bar.
We were desperately close again 2 minutes later, almost capitalising on a monster of a kick from Mo. Adam latched onto the ball and forced a save out of the keeper, who then made an even better save as Luke picked up the loose ball. This time Zach was quickly onto the loose ball, but his shot went over the bar.
Nya was next to go close, shooting wide after Jorge had picked him out with a lovely through ball.
Nya was involved again a minute later as he and Mitch worked the ball nicely down the right and the winger put in an excellent cross that Zach put just wide.
It was only a matter of time before we took the lead - but this of course is Pastures, and that’s not in the script. We all know the storyline - the better we play, the more inevitable it becomes that the opposition score.
Right on cue, Mo mis-kicked a clearance straight to the feet of Marcou, who put the ball into the empty net from 30 yards after 12 minutes with Barton’s only shot of the half. (0-1).
Deja Vu?
Undeterred by this temporary setback, we continued to dominate and play great football, creating more chances as we penned Barton in their own half.
Jorge and Luke combined beautifully to put Nya through, but Adam’s brilliant diving header from the winger’s cross went fractionally over the bar.
Dan then broke through deep into the Barton half and fed Jorge with a cracking through ball, a Barton defender half cleared the danger, but only as far as Luke, whose goal-bound header was cleared off the line.
Nya was getting into some good positions and came close to an equaliser after half an hour. Jorge played a superb pass inside the full back, Nya cut inside and shot from a narrow angle. The keeper saved his shot, but as the ball broke back to him, Nya put the ball wide when he should have scored.
Nya had two more efforts before half time. The first was a shot from outside the box that went over, the second a one-on-one with the keeper from another Jorge through ball that he put wide.
Mo was virtually a spectator with Barton having very few attacks throughout the half and when they did venture forwards, they were easily handled by the Pastures defence.

H-T 0-1

Pastures continued to make the running in the second half, but as Barton defended in numbers, found it harder to make chances, although we did have a number of free kicks, as Barton became more desperate.
Dan came close with a 25 yard free kick that the keeper touched onto the bar and out for a corner.
Luke struck a beautiful 20 yarder that looked a goal all the way, but with the keeper stranded, the ball cannoned back off the crossbar.
Adam and Zach then combined well down the left and Adam put in a cross that Jorge met nicely on the volley, but he couldn’t get the shot on target.
As Pastures kept up the pressure Barton kept up the fouls, with 4 of them getting yellow cards, whilst Rev also picked up a yellow.
At the other end Barton were having little impact. All they mustered was one shot straight at Mo and a goal ruled out for a clear offside.
Pastures finally got the equaliser they deserved with 12 minutes remaining. Jorge put Adam in with a great pass, the striker somehow wriggled his way past 3 defenders and slipped the ball to JAMES NYATORO, who slotted home(1-1).
Pastures had the bit between their teeth and seemed likely to go on and win the game. Dan had another great free kick finger-tipped over the bar and Zach had a free kick saved.
But this is Pastures and we all know the script. With 2 minutes remaining and men committed forwards in search of the winner, we left ourselves exposed at the back and Markou broke away to pick up his second goal of the game with a neat finish as Mo came off his line.(1-2)
There was still time for Rev to lose the plot and pick up his second yellow card, setting the unenviable record of Pastures having a man sent off in every game against Barton this season. Bizarrely, we have had 4 players sent off in 3 games against Barton this season, having only ever had one other sending off in over 100 games over the last 5 years.

Man of the match: DAN GREATOREX. Combined gritty defending with adventurous attacking and came close to scoring twice from free kicks.