BARNT GREEN EXPERIENCE TITLE JITTERS

Today I decided to watch the Midland Combination, Div 2 title favourites, Barnt Green Spartak who play at Pilkington XXX's ground in Kings Norton. Albeit this was my 2nd choice after rejecting my initial choice of the Rugby Town v Biggleswade Town play-off final from the Southern League Central Division, purely on financial grounds. 

It's a sunny May Bank Holiday and I arrive at the ground 15 minutes before kick-off. I have a chat with the Spartak Chairman, Mr. Avtar Singh after paying my £2 entance fee and he tells me that he missed his team's recent away win at title rivals, Sutton United due to a trip to India.

Barnt Green are playing in their mainly all blue strip with orange and Leamington in their green and white. The crowd looks to be about 25-30.
When the game starts, Spartak dominate proceedings and the Hibernian defence is working overtime to keep them out.

               (Here Myron Semper attacks for Spartak down the right)

After going close on several occasions, the Spartak No.4, Lamar Simms scores a very well taken goal. I hear later on that he has only just come back from injury but he certainly didn't show any signs of rustiness!

Leamington somehow manage to finish the first half without conceding any more goals.

A Leamington fan tells me that his team are giving a game to some of their youth team and I wonder if they are facing a heavy defeat today, as they are being out-muscled by their more experienced opponents. 

When play resumes the home team keep up the pressure on the Hibernian defence and after approximately 20 minutes they take a 2-0 lead through Myron Semper.

Barnt Green though step off the gas and Leamington Hibs start fighting back.

(Leamington's No.9 reaches the ball before the keeper but hits it over the bar)

Soon they have pulled a goal back and now with renewed confidence have  Barnt Green on the back foot.

                   (These Hibernian players celebrate their first goal)

Ten minutes to go and Leamington score again! This set back stirs the Barnt Green players into action and they desperately try to get the winner.

They do so right at the death and it's that man Semper again being the scorer. So a tighter result than first anticipated and although Barnt Green remain the title favourites, they still have some tricky fixtures to negotiate, notably Alcester Town and Polesworth.

Another Barnt Green player I was impressed with was their No.3, Carlos Knight, younger brother of the League player, Zac Knight.