British Gas Business Division One Midlands
Saturday 2nd December 2006 - 3:00 p.m. kick-off
Barton Rovers 0 (0)  Bromsgrove Rovers 1 (1)
By Phil Baker

This was supposed to be Paul Carty's last season as a player. No doubt he was hoping to leave the pitch on the last day to a hero's applause. Instead it ended five months early in the twelth minute of this match.

He and Adam Cunnington looked as if they were both going for the same ball, but the Barton striker was late and caught Carty full on the shin. There was a crack and everybody on the pitch knew what had happened. Whilst the Bromsgrove defender received attention for a break in three places, referee Ms Massey brandished a red card to Cunnington, he then went apoplectic. He must have known that he had caused a serious injury, so to show such dissent and to be restrained by his own team-mates defies comment.
And it does not stop there. The correspondent for the club writing in the Non-League Paper spent more time criticising the referee than commiserating Paul Carty's injury. There must be decent people within the small Bedfordshire club but such crass and unsporting behaviour is unique in my experience.

There was some football afterwards but it was difficult to work up any enthusiasm and I think the same went for the players on the pitch.

Nathan Lamey got Rovers' winner on 17 minutes when Neil Davis made a good run down the left wing and sent in a good cross that the striker banged into the roof of the net from close range. "That one's for Paul", quite rightly echoed round the ground.

After that chances were few and far between. Bromsgrove were content holding their slender lead whist Barton defended in numbers only making the odd break. The away team should have had another when John Snape headed against the bar on 56 minutes and James Coates did well to save against Douglas a couple of times. Danny Scheppel had a reasonable match back in green and white though he is apparently short of match fitness after a long absence from the game. However with nobody's heart really in the game, there was some relief when Ms Massey blew for the end of the match.

Paul was due to spent the night in Luton & Dunstable General hospital with a broken tibia, fibula and ankle whilst the rest of us trouped off home wishing him the best and speedy recovery.

Barton: Robbie Tims, André Maltay, Danny Howson, Andy Reed (capt), Niall Lynch,
Mark Potter, James Hatch, Adam Reid (Amar Daved 63 mins), Adam Cunnington,
Daniel Douglas, Matt Endersby.
Subs not used: Jason Darvall, Andy Hughes, Gary Fitzgerald.

Rovers: James Coates, Danny Scheppel, Chris McHale, Paul Carty (Paul Lloyd 12 mins), Carl Heeley, John Snape, Stuart Skidmore, Mark Taylor (capt, Matt Hall 81 mins),
Neil Davies, Nathan Lamey, Liam McDonald.
Subs not used: Gary Hay, Chris Taylor.

Scorers: Rovers - Davies (17 mins)
Yellows:Rovers: Gill
Reds: Barton - Cunnington

Attendance: 137
Referee: Ms L Massey (Worcester).

Baker's MoM for Rovers: Neil Davis.