Barnies United back to form in A-Grade

Barnstoneworth United turned around some mixed form of late with a solid 3-0 win over Barnies FC in a club derby on Saturday.

United have now firmed in 2nd place on the table, with FC in 3rd.

UnIted came out with more focus on Saturday and they had to against a FC side that has notched some great results lately.

The opener came when Kynan Lane produced a vicious strike from distance that took both the FC keeper and defence by surprise.

United coach Chris Jacobs was pleased by the way his side reacted to the quick FC response after the goal.

“FC responded by applying forward pressure on our back four, but it was good to see the way Ibby Yunusa, Bill Foster, Tom Radnedge and Niall Cummings kept their shape and composure,” Chris Jacobs said.

With only minutes left in the half, keeper Jerome Luke recovered from a juggling save to launch an exocet missile over the FC defence. United striker Lachie Peet was the first to react, lobbing it over the head of the advancing keeper, going into the break 2-0 up.

“We knew FC would be out of the blocks early to try and cut the deficit and that’s exactly what happened,” Chris Jacobs recalls. “Most of the second half was played in the United half and Sam Sutton, Matt Downer, Alex Elliott and Will Cooney worked overtime to protect the lead.”

With scoreboard pressure and the clock winding down FC committed more personnel forward but the strategy caught them on the break, Peet using his pace to pull out the FC defence. A precise ball in behind found an unmarked Tim Dehnam, the veteran slotting the ball away to complete the scoring.

FC captain Brendon Manning conceded his side started too slowly.

“It was a tough game and we weren’t expecting a more hungry United team that came out on Saturday,” Manning said. “It took us a while to get going but we were all ready 2 nil down before we knew it and you just can’t do that in A- Grade.”

“The boys dug deep trying to get a few goals but we weren’t able to, credit to the United defence.

“We just have to take it on the chin and look to next week.”

FC have no time to turn their game around, coming up against top-of-the-table Waratahs FC on Saturday.

The result was marred by another serious injury to Kynan Lane. He has seen sent to the club doctor for scans and club officials are awaiting their report.

Josh Towns backing up from a previous game with Brighouse was applauded by the United players and coach and cheered off the pitch by an appreciative crowd.