The Kennel was cold and windy on Saturday as Barkers (sixth) hosted Doncaster Rovers (twelfth). Barkers were looking for their third win in a row but were forced to make changes for the first time in four games. Out were Ross Clark (injured) and Tristan Walker (suspended), replaced by John-Paul Cooper and Anthony Di Crea.
An early chance came to Danny Aye in the third minute as he hit a low drive, which keeper Gabriel Vallese did well to turn round his post. Then a good Donny crossfield ball to the right wing was crossed in, but Ryan Smith beat his attacker to the ball. Sadly for Di Crea, his return to the starting lineup ended after only 11 minutes when he went off with a knee injury, to be replaced by Mario Rivera.
On 23 minutes, Ray Markley floated a free-kick to the far post, which Sean Perrin headed wide. Then keeper Vladi Velikin was called on to stop a shot from a through ball by Max Bonaddio. Two minutes later, Marcus Watson crossed from the left, but Smith’s head didn’t quite connect.
Watson was looking dangerous, and seven minutes from the break, a long ball from Perrin eventually led the striker to hit a shot which fizzed past the post. A couple of free-kicks right on half time saw Perrin hit a long shot over, then Aye blaze a shot over. Half time 0-0, with Barkers doing reasonably well after a slow start.
The second half saw the wind drop, and Barkers began well, with Markley working very hard to win a number of 50-50 balls. On 52 minutes, Rivera did well to win a corner, which Cooper hit from the right, and Smith headed wide at the far post. On the hour, Markley again won the ball, and a ball to Rivera saw his shot well parried by Vallese.
With 20 minutes left, many were wondering if Barkers would, typically, fail to put away the bottom side. Enter Aye, who was proving a real handful for Donny. Aye went on a lovely solo run before finding Markley on the right. He played in Watson, who made no mistake from close range to make it 1-0 Barkers.
Donny almost replied three minutes later when Zach Nasso found Stefan Cardamone, who brought a brilliant save from Velikin, who tipped the ball wide. Donny’s Andrew Tucci hit a corner from the right to the far post, where a header brought a flying save from the Barkers’ keeper. Barkers were living a little too dangerously for comfort.
Not to worry. They say the only certainties in life are death, taxes, and a Smith goal against Donny. Aye played a corner from the left, short to Watson. Watson hit back to Aye, who crossed to the far post. It looked overhit, but Smith leapt prodigiously to head the ball beyond Vallese into the net to make it 2-0.
Barkers now had the game tucked away, but not before Velikin gave us another magnificent double save to preserve his clean sheet. Full time 2-0 and Barkers deserved this…eventually. Still sixth but putting a little more pressure on the sides above them. Next is a trip to Bentleigh United Cobras.
