Barn get the better of Rosario

With ex-UUJ boss Fra Miskelly in the dugout, Rosario were well organised, although it was Barn, playing into the teeth of the biting wind, who breezed into a 15th-minute lead. John Mathers’ initial attempt bounced off the centre-half and fell nicely for Andy Kane to unleash volley into the corner of the net.

Recent recruit Johnny McFetridge then came close with two headers from perfectly measured deliveries from Omar. One was cleared off the line and the other pawed around the post by the keeper.

Instead, it was another ex-Kilroot man who doubled Barn’s lead on 32 minutes when Rob Armstrong notched his first of the season with a first-time finish from the edge of the box.

One minute later, however, Rosario were back within touching distance, hammering the ball first time past the helpless Stephen Brennan.

The Ormeau Road side edged the remainder of the session, as well as the opening 15 minutes of the second-half, although Barn’s only real scare was when Brennan had to usher a looping effort over the bar.

Barn, however, made the game safe 20 minutes from time when, with the defenders backing off, Kane potted the ball in from 12 yards.

Barn United: Brennan – Sharkey (McKinty), P Mathers, Alexander – Omar (Lammey), McFetridge (Bingham), McKee, Armstrong, Boyce – Kane, J Mathers.