Winterton Rangers FC beat Barton Town Old Boys 4-1 in Scunthorpe area derby

Barton Town Old Boys were humbled 4-1 by a Winterton Rangers side fighting for their Premier Division lives and much more up for it on the day.

By the time Barton twigged they were in a local derby in which form and league positions invariably go out of the window, it was all too little, too late.

With Adam Crane failing a fitness test, Steve Norton returned to the Barton starting line-up alongside Gareth Barlow, rested for the previous Saturday’s game at Glasshoughton; Simon Spencer making way.

Rangers made just the start they were looking for, going in front in their first attack in the eighth minute.

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Scott Matthews showed a clean pair of heels before his excellent delivery was met by the head of the unmarked Chris Fussell to give Ben White no chance in the Town goal.

The game had started poorly for Barton and it got worse just 10 minutes later, White doing well to parry a well-struck free-kick, the ball running loose to Robbie Spence, who had the simple task of firing into an empty net.

At last, a lethargic Town responded, Barlow’s header from a Declan Marshall cross forcing Rangers’ keeper, Leigh Herrick to tip over, but another quick break in the 21st minute saw Rangers make it three, Daniel Hagan having time to pick his spot, which he duly did.

Clearly shell-shocked, Town switched to 4-4-2, allowing Norton to come inside to partner Barlow and it almost paid immediate dividends in the 32nd minute.

Just seconds after ex Old Boy, Mark McDonagh had done just enough to divert an Ash Lattimore cross from the head of the lurking Barlow, Norton, getting on the end of a Barlow knock-down was unceremoniously taken out by Herrick.

After a considerable delay to allow for treatment to the injured Norton, Ryan Cooper was entrusted with the task of grabbing a lifeline for Town from the penalty spot. It wasn’t to be, Herrick diving low to his left to block the spot-kick and then doing superbly well to get his legs in the way of Barlow’s well-struck volley on the follow-up.

There was still enough time in the half for another, albeit half-hearted Town appeal for a second penalty when Danny Brunton appeared to be tripped on the edge of the six yard box as he sneaked in on the blind-side of the last Rangers defender, but the referee was having none of it. And in all fairness, a second penalty so soon after the first, was probably more than Town deserved after such a poor first half showing.

Unsurprisingly, and no doubt after Dave Anderson had made his thoughts known during the half-time break, Town began the second half much better than they had the first. It would have been difficult not to.

Marshall’s strike almost crept in at Herrick’s near-post as Barton looked for the early goal to give themselves some hope of an unlikely comeback.

But again on the break, Robbie Start could have taken the game away from the Swans completely, only to drill straight at White as Town pushed on.

When substitute, Tim Taylor was tripped just inside the box in the 69th minute, the referee had no hesitation in awarding another penalty and this time Ash Lattimore scored, sending Herrick the wrong way to give Barton a toe-hold. And when Brunton headed home just two minutes later that toe-hold was looking something a lot more substantial, only for a late off-side flag to dampen the travelling Barton supporters’ celebrations.

Town continued to press, Spencer’s turn and shot going just the wrong side of Herrick’s far post but with most of Barton’s players camped in the Winterton half, any chance of an unlikely Town comeback was ended in the 84th minute, Funnell finding himself all alone, one on one with White and although the Swans’ keeper did very well to block the initial effort, he could do nothing about the follow-up.

Game over, Rangers saw out time to record a deserved victory and, more importantly for them, three valuable points in their relegation fight.

Barton Town OB: White; Sherwood, Suddaby, Dexter, Brunton; Marshall, G.Cooper (Owen), R. Cooper (Taylor); Norton, Barlow (Spencer), Lattimore; subs not used Winn, Crook.

Attendance: 159.

Town will need to look in the mirror and face a few home truths. In the space of a couple of weeks, despite occupying a very creditable top six position all season they have surrendered six points against bottom two sides, first Lincoln Moorlands and now Winterton Rangers.

Patently, that’s not good enough for a side with top six pretensions.

Tomorrow (Tuesday night) they have the return game at Lincoln Moorlands to contend with.

On Saturday, Thackley will visit The Euronics Ground, Barton (3pm KO).

An interesting week looms...