Southbank had no less than 6 players missing for this derby clash but were fortunate that first team players were available to fill a couple of gaps.  Budda started at left back to replace Tim Edwards and Mark Holton came in to replace Steve Woodrow up front.  Dave Guppy replaced Karl Lobato on the right and Neil Hankinson returned for the absent Mike Tappern.

Southbank started slowly and seemed to have their minds elsewhere from the off.  After 2 minutes Towner took exception to a punch that nobody else saw and chased the offending spotty teenager half way across the pitch.  Fortunately Towner is very slow.

Southbank gave the ball away far too often and seemed to be looking for the killer pass rather than playing it simple.  This caused friction between our own players and stopped any flow to our football.  Barton had most of the decent possession but a combination of good defending and poor finishing kept the scores level.

Against the run of play Southbank took the lead on 20 minutes when Malcolm Everest broke clear down the right and chipped a ball to the unmarked Mark Holton at the far post who made no mistake with a strong header from 8 yards.

This didn’t really change the pattern of play and Barton continued to look the better side until they got in front of goal.  However, they equalised in first half injury  time when one of their players was left unmarked 10 yards out to drill home.

This was a hammer blow before half time but nobody could argue that it was undeserved.

Two things seemed to swing the game in Southbank’s favour in the second half.  The game became very niggly and tempers frayed which seemed to kick start Southbank’s players into life.  The second thing was that the referee recognised Ben Neo from one of his favourite holiday photos when he used to work behind the bar at the Rose & Crown in Epcot.  Strong suspicions were aroused that the photo is now quite sticky and the suspicions gained more weight in the second half when Southbank were awarded a soft penalty and Barton had two cast iron appeals turned down!

Southbank began to get on top in the second half as the game became more physical but chances were still few and far between whilst at the other end Barton had numerous good chances, usually down to over-elaboration at the back.

Barton continued to miss though and also had solid claims for a penalty turned down before Southbank took the lead on 60 minutes when Andy Persaud swung his standing foot at the ball and it floated into the far corner.   

2-1 became 3-1 minutes later when the referee awarded a soft penalty for a push in the box.  Goalkeeper Ian Harvey stepped up to scuff the ball straight down the middle but fortunately for him the opposition goalkeeper dived out of the way.

Southbank were on top by this stage but weren’t creating chances whilst at the other end Barton looked dangerous on the break.  Their final chance came 5 minutes from time when their centre forward broke into the box only to be kung-fu kicked Harald Schumacher style by Harvey.  The ref waved play on!

And that was the way it finished.  A less than convincing performance but three points nonetheless to add to the three we took from Barton earlier in the season.  That’s 6 wins from the last 7 games as we prepare for our 2 toughest games of the season so far.

Team: Harvey, Fullbrook, Booth, Fitzpatrick, Hankinson, Guppy (Cook), Towner, Persuad (Pugh), Neo, Everest (Broomfield), Holton