Football: Barnston end winless streak with five-goal demolition of Kirby

LEE Elliston has told his players to keep up the good work following a 5-1 victory over a hard-working Kirby side on Saturday.

Barnston were looking for a first win in five games and, although the scoreline was comfortable, Elliston urged his team to start taking more of the chances they are creating.

“Getting a win was important. Our work rate, honesty and pressure was a real positive and that gave us a good base to build on,” he said.

“We moved the ball well in patches but we still tend to over complicate in the opposition’s half. We need to be as comfortable on the ball in our own half as we are in there’s so we can sustain pressure and kill games off.”

The opening goal came on 22 minutes. Some good play from man-of-the-match Matt Staines down the left led to a corner which Patrick D’angelo whipped into the box only for the Kirby goalkeeper to fumble into his own net.

Craig Copas then hit a brace before the half was out to put Barnston firmly in the driving seat.

The visitors kept the pressure up after the break and added two more, through Staines and substitute Gordon Wilson.

The hosts added a goal before the end but Barnston welcomed the three points as they remain in seventh in the Essex & Suffolk Border Football League division one table.

The result was also the perfect confidence booster going into the weekend’s visit of Tiptree Jobserve – a game Elliston is relishing.

“It will be a tough game but one we need to rise to. The players need to raise their level and standards and show me that they want to be part of what I am trying to do,” he said.

“It is a six-pointer at home against a competitive side – what more could they want?”