Manager Barnes praises his Horbury Town heroes after big victory at table toppers
Horbury Town manager Darren Barnes was understandably full of praise for his players after they went away to NCE Premier leaders Dearne & District and delivered a superb performance.
Town came back with all three points from a 3-1 victory over opponents flying high again following their record points tally amassed in Division One last season.
They made their intentions clear and were ahead in the 21st minute when Joe Angell – who has been moved from defence to play up front in recent weeks – pounced on a defensive mistake to round the keeper and score.
Horbury were not ahead for long as they failed to clear their lines and within a minute Jack Boyle had made it 1-1.
But Angell then turned provider for Lucas Smith to make it 2-1 on 28 minutes and the visitors held the lead at half-time.
Dearne threatened to hit back after the break, but Town extended their lead when Keenan Davies-Mosley struck following good work by substitute Jake Roberts and they saw out the game well.
“Great performance, great effort from one to 16, The coaching staff, supporters, we all got behind the team, invested in the day and we were deserved winners,” said manager Barnes.
"They are top of the league for a reason, they’re a good side, they score goals. They had a few chances from 20 yards out that on a different day they put in, but we played the better football. We had other chances ourselves.
"But this is probably my best 16 – ever. The squad is the strongest it’s ever been. I was able to try something different that I’ve always wanted to do but didn’t have the centre-halves available to be able to do it. It was probably a bit risky to do it against a free flowing scoring side like these, but it’s worked and fair play to everybody.
"The whole backline was very good. We’ve pushed Joe (Angell) higher up and we’ve got three very good centre-halves without Joe. The first two goals he was involved in.
"The turnaround from last season 12 months ago is leaps and bounds – we are in a much better position.”
Horbury also enjoyed a victory in midweek when they won 2-0 at Leeds UFCA in the first round of the West Riding County Cup, Oli Johnson and George Whittaker netting.
They now face Retford United at home tonight (Tuesday) back in the league and travel to Parkgate on Saturday before another home game on November 10 against Golcar United.