Added Jan 1st 2008 -

Barton Rovers 1 - 2 Rothwell Town

Rothwell Town saw in the new year with a fine win and three much-needed points in the BGB Southern League Division One Midlands.

Striker Jason Turner capped his return to the club with the winning goal as Bones left it late before claiming the victory their play had merited.

They dominated most of the game, in particular the second half, yet went in at half-time trailing 1-0 to a 39th-minute Gary Sippetts'
strike.

Tony Thorpe created the goal for the Rovers midfielder who found the bottom corner with a low shot that gave Bones keeper Tom Smith no chance.

Rothwell had already ha d several chances prior to that with Micky Tolton going closest when his shot was deflected for a corner.

The second half started with substitute Ian Blaikie, who replaced the injured Martin Flannigan at half-time, seeing his shot bounce off home keeper Martin Patching for a corner.

Michael Boyle-Chong and Gokhan Ulkan then both saw shots go narrowly wide before the bar rescued Barton on the hour as a ball into the box took a deflection.

Patching was in action again on 67 minutes to tip away a Steve Purton free-kick.

With so much pressure it seemed inevitable that Rothwell would score and they finally equalised on 83 minutes when the lively Purton saw another free-kick parried by Patching and Boyle-Chong fired home the rebound.

Two minutes later the Bones got their winner as Ulkan slipped in a ball from the right and Turner's powerful shot went straight through the keeper.

Thanks to the Evening Telegraph.

Rothwell now face two home games in a row - Leighton Town on Saturday (Jan 5th), then Rushall Olympic on Tuesday (Jan 8th).

Barton Rovers: Patching, Pugh (sub Cunnington, 88 mins), Strange, Buchanan, Buss, Wild, Kean, Sippetts, Thorpe, Sinclair (sub Preston, 88 mins), Toms (sub Maynard, 66 mins). Subs not used: Robb, Tilbury.

Rothwell: Smith, Tolton, Purton, Greasley, Kattos, Flannigan (sub Blakie, h-t), Ulkan, Boyle-Chong, Turner, McInally, Koriya. Sub not used: Keddy.

Referee: Mr L Forrester

Goals: Sippetts (39 mins, 1-0), Boyle-Chong (83 mins, 1-1), Turner (85 mins, 1-2)

Booking: Ulkan (kicking ball away)

Chairman's man of the match: Liam McInally (superb full debut)

Match rating: 7