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Comfortable win for Barn United

Wednesday, 3 February 2010

BARN UNITED 4-1 RATHFERN RANGERS.

ON form Barn United reeled off their fifth win in a row with this four-one victory over Rathfern Rangers at Haslett Park.
Rathfern opened the scoring on 20 minutes when David Moore and Glyn McCartney combined to prise out an opportunity for Gary Weir to hammer the ball in from ten yards.
Just after that Moore had a great chance of extending that lead, breezing through only to lose out to keeper Chris Campbell who had darted bravely off his line.
However, at the other end, some uncertainty at the back saw Nicky Sharples nip in and round keeper Neil Lovell for the United leveller.
Rathfern, though, could have bounced right back when left back Neil Crawford ran from deep but just when he was about to pull the trigger, with just Campbell in front of him, the referee whistled for what was a dubious offside decision.
Instead it was Barn who edged in front for the first time, with the referee spotting Gary Lovell nudging Sharples in the back as he made his headed clearance. Rathfern were far from impressed, given that there had been no real howls for a penalty, but not that ex Rathfern Ranger Sharples was too perturbed as he tucked away the resultant spot kick
Rathfern's Colin Gardiner, meanwhile, was perhaps relieved to see yellow and not red for a hefty challenge.
Ten minutes into the second session, there was more controversy when Rathfern thought they ought to have had the free kick for a foul on Ronnie Sloan, only for the referee to give it in Barn's favour.
Even then, though, this was hardly a 'Gee Special', as keeper Lovell appeared to think Gary McKee's free kick was trundling wide - but instead it smacked off the post, where United's Christopher Monteith was the first to react; Rangers' offside pleas failing to carry much weight with Mr Rainey. Rathfern did their best to respond, with Weir and Moore firing in a couple of dangerous crosses, while they too had a penalty claim, appealing that Paul Mathers punched the ball out whilst under pressure from Colin Andrews. The free kick instead went Barn's way.
Rangers, or anyone else, nevertheless, could have no complaints about Barn's second penalty, with Gary Lovell sending the Tony Kane crashing to the ground. Up stepped Sharples to gleefully complete his hat trick.
So, not the happiest way for joint manager Ryan McCartney to celebrate his 35th birthday.
Next Saturday, Barn are back at Haslett Park for the visit of 2B side Kircubbin in the Clarence Cup. It won't be totally unfamiliar opposition, as manager Jim Pherson and the likes of Paul Mathers, Darren McKinty, Chris Monteith and Nicky Sharples would have locked horns with the Peninsula side back in their days at Kilroot Rec.
Rathfern, meanwhile, return to the Diamond, Rathcoole for the Clarence Cup visit of 1B strugglers 1st Bangor Old Boys.
Barn United; Campbell - Baird, Wakeham, P Mathers, Monteith - Kelly, McKee, McKinty (Patterson), Matthews (Brown) - Sharples, Kane.
Rathfern Rangers; N Lovell - Dodds, G Lovell, Solomon (Montgomery), Crawford (Craig) - Moore, Gardiner, Sloan, Weir (J Doyle) - Andrews, G McCartney. Referee, Mr Colin Rainey, Randalstown.
Man of the Match;
hat trick hero Nicky Sharples.

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