Barton Rovers came back from two goals behind in their first home league clash of the season as they drew 2-2 to Thame United.
Rovers began the game with just one change from their triumph against East Thurrock at Leighton Town's ground on Wednesday evening, Captain Kirkpatrick was absent so Serhan Dogruer took his place in the starting eleven!
Rovers started the game strongly and looked threatening early on as Josh Adeyileka had 3 brilliant chances in the opening ten minutes. The first chance in the second minute hit the post, the second in the fourth minute was parried away by the goalkeeper as was his third effort in the tenth.
After a strong start, Barton went quiet and Thame looked the more daengrous side as Grant was forced to make a goal-line clearance in the nineteenth minute. After a few more attacks Thame eventually broke the deadlock when Wiktor Makowski slotted past Cameron Groom in the twenty-third minute. Dutchie sustained an injury in the build-up to Thames goal when attempting to defend the attack and needed to be replaced after they scored. Things went from bad to worse for Rovers just two minutes after conceding their first as they gave a penalty away. Thame converted the penalty and they were 2-0 ahead by the twenty-sixth minute. Ten minutes later, another issue arose for the Rovers as goalkeeper Groom went down with an injury that meant he couldn't continue. Club captain Paul Andrews stepped up and volunteered to go in goal as the Rovers didn't have a sub-keeper.
Due to the injuries, ten minutes were added on, in that time Rovers didn't have many chances apart from one effort from Cameron Hyde that went over the bar. Rovers had to make their final substitution in the last minute of additional time when Jemale McKenzie got injured, Max Ryan came on in his place and the referee signalled halftime straight after.
Rovers had a big challenge ahead in the second half, two goals down and an outfield player in goal. However, they went in search of a goal immediately and actually had the ball in the back of the net through Max Ryan, the referee disallowed it for unknown reasons though. Barton had a handful of chances in the second half as Keely and Rhiney linked up well but there was no breakthrough until the seventy first minute when Josh Adeyileka got one back. After some brilliant footwork from Rhiney, he put it on a plate for Adeyileka who tapped it into the back to make it 1-2.
After getting one back, Rovers went in search of an equaliser, Rhiney came close again but was denied by the Thame keeper twice. In additional time, Rovers were awarded a penalty kick for a handball in the box, Taylor Rhiney stepped up and converted it!
Following the equaliser, both teams had chances but none of them were overly threatening and the game ended level!
Full Time: Barton Rovers 2-2 Thame United
MOTM: Taylor Rhiney
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