After Wednesday night’s home win against Abbey Hey, Eccleshall were looking for more of the same as they faced Barnton at Pershall Park under the lights on Saturday evening, as the game was the final match of the day in the NWCFL Groundhop programme. With Aidan Blaise injured, manager Liam Kelly brought in Mark Groom at the back and Aaron Woolrich returned in goal.
Kicking off in front of a healthy crowd of over three hundred, the first half was a tight affair with both sides cancelling each other out and not much to offer in terms of goal opportunities for either side. Barnton’s Lee Turkington probably had the best chance but headed over the bar after some good build up play. As the many spectators queued for their half-time refreshments, they were hoping for a little more excitement in the second half.
HT: Eccleshall 0 Barnton 0

With the second half under way, the game remained a tight affair and needed a goal to fire it into life. After 71 minutes, it was Barnton who drew first blood with a goal which belied the earlier action. Tom Turkington received the ball well outside the box and unleashed a screamer which flew into the top corner of the net, giving Woolrich no chance whatsoever. Stung by this, Eagles tried to get back into the game but the visitors’ defence was holding firm. However, the Eagles continued to press and were duly rewarded after 81 minutes. A Mitchell Glover corner from the right was headed goalwards by Ryan Pickup and, although Barnton keeper Patrick McLoughlin managed to save this, the ball came back out, and Pickup lashed home the rebound. The game had now come to life before a melee in front of the dugouts after referee Schofield failed to award a free kick to the home side after heated appeals, resulted in both teams being reduced to ten men. Barnton scorer Turkington and Eagles’ Luke Lewis were both red-carded after coming together – both sides feeling the decision was a harsh one. Manager Kelly was then booked by the referee for protesting a little too much. With time now ticking away, it appeared as though the match was heading for a draw until Eagles found the breakthrough in added time. Ethan Stanton laid the ball to Glover outside the box, and he went on a mazy run, leaving three Barnton defenders in his wake before cutting into the area. He then set up Stanton who had moved forward and he calmly controlled the pass before rifling the ball past McLoughlin into the roof of the net to the approval of the massed spectators. It was then a matter of playing out the remaining time to bag another welcome three points.
FT: Eccleshall 2 Barnton 1

The visitors will probably feel a little hard done by, travelling home with nothing, but the result means that Eccleshall have moved back again within reach of the teams bunched above them. They will now be looking forward to two testing away games as they travel to Cheadle Town on Tuesday evening before the visit to Birkenhead to meet Cammell Laird 1907 on Saturday.

Eagles: Woolrich, Groom, Woodroffe (Darlington), Stanton, Pickup, Dunn, Lewis, Flattley (Benton), Boast, Malbon (Downs), Glover.
Unused subs: Fitton, Hickman.

Referee: Mr Benjamin Schofield
Attendance: 314