UNDER 18 MATCH REPORT: Barton Rovers 2 - 1 LEFC

It was Leicestershire against Staffordshire in the Derby City League as Emmanuel traveled to Barton's excellent Hollands Sports Ground and, despite dominating most of the game, somehow came home with nothing to show for what was an excellent performce.  The first thirty minutes were quite astonishing as Emmanuel, with Large prompting really well from midfield, Smithson lively on the left and Schad making some fine forward runs, created no less then seven clear chances.   Somehow, though, the ball would just not go in. Emmanuel then thought they had scored from a Pownall volley but the linesman adjudged that the ball had not crossed the line.  Baron did, though, come into the game toward the end of the half and only a brilliant save from Day prevented Barton scoring.  The second half was not quite as one-sided but Emmanuel still dominated and so it was very much against the run of play that Baron should score, from a penalty that Day could not quite save. Emmanuel came back well producing another string of superb passing moves involving both centre-backs, Arme and Riman, as well as the overlapping Sharp and Tyrer, and finally got their reward when, following one such move, Etherington nutmegged his full-back before  pulling the ball back for Pownall who produced  the perfect finish.   It was now all Emmanuel and they appeared certain to go on and win with first Aning and then Sweet going one-on-one with the Barton keeper but neither could quite score.   It was, though, Barton who got the all-important goal, as they punished Emmanuel on the break.  Once again Emmanuel came back strongly and, with Frutuoso and Watkiss both on, the church club put Barton under enormous pressure but it was, in the end, just not to be. Emmanuel have never produced so much brilliant approach play in one game and so came off wondering just how they managed to lose.  If, though, they can reproduce this form in next week's Derby City League Cup Final, and add the killer touch, they may yet bring the cup back to Loughborough.