Report
Waltham Forest got back to winning ways, in this wind affected fixture, by the grace of second half goals from Robbie Rix and Declan Perkins.
Forest were, once again, without many first team regulars and had to overcome a swirling wind and a Barton side pushing up to play the off side trap. Top scorer Dewayne Clarke found himself in goalscoring positions on a number of occasions only to hear the referee’s whistle.
Midway through the first half Clarke was on hand to defend the ball on the edge of his own penalty area, and pass the ball out right to John Morgan. Clarke was then in Barton’s area to pick up Morgan’s cross only to shoot wide.
Minutes later, Barton’s ‘keeper Brad Gillham proved to be their hero of the first half when he dived to his right to somehow keep out a Clarke header from an immaculate cross by Morgan.
Barton’s first attempt on the Forest goal came from a free kick after 19 minutes but Johnson’s bullet shot was easily stopped by the well placed Gavin King in the home goal.
The Forest defensive trio of Barnes, Brown and Cashman seemed to master both the wind and Barton’s forward play quite early in the match. Indeed ex Forest front man Ian Cooper became more and more frustrated throughout the match as he could find no way round the home defensive wall.
The best of the attacking play came from Forest who, once again, managed to read and use the wind better than their opponents. On 25 minutes Kim Karlsen one a free kick by the right touchline and Warren Ryan skimmed the bar with his 40 yard wind assisted shot.
Ten minutes later Forest had an excellent “shout” for a penalty when Ryan was taken down in the penalty area but referee, Mr Yeo, was too well placed to see reality.
Barton ended the half with two chances to score: Ian Cooper won a free kick on the edge of the penalty area but sent the ball harmlessly over the bar crossbar; then Gordon Guile broke free on the left of the penalty area but some quick covering play by Morgan and Cashman snuffed out the problem.
Forest opened the second half with renewed purpose. Only two minutes had elapsed into the half when a golden opportunity was spurned. Ryan raced down the left wing with the ball, waited for reinforcements and sent the ball to Karlsen on the edge of the six yard box. Karlsen turned and crossed for Clarke to narrowly miss heading home. The ball fell to Morgan who cut it back for Perkins coming into the box but his shot did not have the power it needed and the chance went begging.
Barton had the best of the wind in the second half and brought out the best in home ‘keeper Gavin King who made one amazing save preventing Chris Cutmore from scoring at close range.
On two further occasions Forest were lucky not to go a goal down when they needlessly gave the ball away in midfield and presented Barton goalscoring opportunities which the home defence had to be quick to clear up.
On 63 minutes the game swung Forest’s way when Clarke won the ball in midfield and flicked the ball out to Morgan who sent a long ball into the Barton six yard box. Perkins drew the defender and Rix headed the ball to the right past Gillham.
Both teams went looking for the next goal but it was Forest who claimed it on 90 minutes when a long ball out of defence found Ali Demir on the left . He waited until Perkins arrived in the penalty area and sent in a pinpoint cross which the striker deftly lifted over the Gillham’s outspread body.
This was amost pleasing result considering the list of players missing and the form of late.