Barton Rovers were knocked out of the FA Trophy last Saturday after falling to a 3-2 defeat away to Heybridge Swifts.
Rovers manager Jermaine Hall handed out starting debuts to 17-year-old Ciaran Maher and Sam Willett as Paul Andrews captained the side. Beginning the game, Rovers started strong as Maher and McKenzie had early chances on goal with Kirkpatrick being the creator in the attacks. However, it was the home side who took an early lead as the Swifts scored directly from a freekick conceded on the edge of Rovers box in the sixteenth minute. Rovers wasted no time to get back into the game though as Joe Rider fired Barton level in the thirtieth minute. The goal came after Ciaran Maher forced the keeper into a save, he parried it into the path of Rider who tapped it into the back of the net. Although Rovers drew level, they would go into halftime a goal down as the Swifts regained their lead in the fortieth minute of play after a defensive mistake from Barton.
After halftime, Rovers looked more the threat, but Heybridge added another goal to their tally in the fifty-sixth minute, taking the score to 3-1. The Rovers bench reacted quickly and made a triple change which saw Ollie Trott come on for his debut along with Dutchie and Adeyileka. Adeyileka had an instant impact as he won a penalty with his first touches on the ball. Joe Rider stepped up to take the spot kick and got his second of the game to lower the deficit. After scoring, Barton looked like they would potentially grab an equaliser and force the game to penalties, however, Lucas Kirkpatrick was sent off in the seventy-fourth minute and Rovers were forced to play the remainder of the game with ten men. Rovers had a handful of chances towards the end of the game, the best being in the final minute where Ryan Neufville headed just wide of the post, but they could not find an equaliser and were dumped out of the FA Trophy.
Full Time: Heybridge Swifts 3-2 Barton Rovers
Next Match: Wroxham (Home)
