Match report: Barnton 0 Squires Gate 0

barnton 0
Squires Gates Ben Seear wins the ball       Picture: Albert CooperSquires Gates Ben Seear wins the ball       Picture: Albert Cooper
Squires Gates Ben Seear wins the ball Picture: Albert Cooper

Manager Danny Penswick made two changes to the side that lost to promotion-chasing 1874 Northwich last weekend.

New signing, Charlie Waters from Lancaster City, came in on the right-hand side while Seydou Bamba was preferred to Brett Dawson up front.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It certainly wasn’t a classic but it was perhaps what Gate needed after three defeats on the bounce.

Waters could have made the perfect start to his Squires Gate career on 10 minutes when he fired a great chance wide.

Penswick played a lovely through ball behind the full-back to find Waters, but his first-time shot was fired wide of the post.

The home side then had two chances; firstly Chris Smith headed off target at the back post from a corner and then Jason McShane fired wide of the target from a long way out.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Penswick then fired wide to end what was a good spell of possession from Gate around Barnton’s area.

Joe Noblet shot over at the second attempt when a mazy run ended with Waters being fouled, while at the other end, the home side saw a goal ruled out for offside on 24 minutes.

The second half became more of a scrappy affair with only one team looking likely to win the game.

Waters again came close to opening his account on 59 minutes, firing over after Paul Carroll’s throw in was headed down by Bamba.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

As the clock ticked on the game became more stretched with Gate looking to score a late winner.

Waters was again involved when he latched onto a lovely through ball from Paul Carroll but his shot was blocked and cleared.

Ten minutes later Waters found the run of substitute Dawson, whose shot rebounded into Bamba’s path, but he couldn’t adjust quickly enough to shoot.

Dawson and Bamba again linked up three minutes later, but the latter headed wide from Dawson’s cross in.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The late chances wouldn’t end there for Gate with two in the last minute.

Penswick could have won it but his shot from inside the box was blocked and cleared at the second attempt.

Then, moments later, Dawson crossed but Bamba couldn’t keep his header down.

“I thought we played much better and were unlucky not to win it second half,” Penswick said afterwards.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We’re happy to come away with something and after three defeats on the trot, stop that trend.

“We looked the more dangerous team without creating too many clear cut chances and could, and should, have won it late on.”

Gate have a week off now with no fixture on Saturday before travelling to AFC Liverpool the week after.

Related topics: