"Play between the sticks": Barratt's adaptability pays off as Magpies sink Enfield

Sam Barratt. Photo: Darren Woolley

--

Sam Barratt hopes the adaptability he’s shown in the past few matches can help him nail down a place in Maidenhead United’s starting XI going forward.

The midfielder has been used as a makeshift centre forward in the Magpies past two home games, and he came off the bench to great effect in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Enfield Town.

Having struggled to make much of an impact in the frustrating 3-1 defeat to Slough Town on Boxing Day, Barratt was told to ‘play between the sticks’ when he was brought on as a 53rd minute substitute for Jaiden Celestine-Charles on Saturday.

This time, he caused the Towners all sorts of problems as United increasingly made inroads against the 10-men in the second half. Liam Dulson had smashed the Magpies into the lead on the hour mark, but Barratt stole the show in the final half-hour, scoring from the spot to settle any remaining nerves in the 71st minute before gambling on a back post run to score with a tap in after 78 minutes to complete a comfortable home win.

“Their game plan was to sit very deep and get us on the counter, and we didn’t move the ball quick enough in the first half,” said Barratt.

“They got into some dangerous positions on the counter.

“A change of shape for the second half made a huge difference so hats off to Peyo and Aaron on that one.

“With the change of shape, I’ve struggled to get into the team a little bit. So, I’ve been trying to adapt positionally a little bit.

“I came on up front today, watching in the first half what I needed to do, and it worked. I was happy to come on, and I don’t think I’ve scored a tap in in my life, so I was buzzing to have that one.”

Barratt hasn’t had too much game time since the Magpies switched to a 5-3-2 formation in the final weeks of Alan Devonshire’s tenure. With results improving, he’s had more of a watching brief of late, but the midfielder hopes his talent and adaptability will see him play a key role in Maidenhead’s promotion challenge in the second half of the season. He also knows he’ll have to be willing to play in a variety of positions to get into the team.

“We’ve got a plan B,” said Barratt. “We work in the week to have a plan and a shape and pattern and whatnot. But we do have a plan B, and we all know that and we know our roles, so when we do switch it, it’s smooth and everyone knows their positions.

“We worked it well today; we managed to get wide and had good overloads in the second half.

“We moved the ball well and they couldn’t cope with the 10 men. We were relentless so it was good.

“As soon as you get that first goal, when they’re down to 10 men, they must start doing something and the gaps open.

“Hats off to Duls (Dulson), he was so direct today. He obviously scored the first goal but was also involved in the second and third. You need that, someone taking the bull by the horns and making things happen.”

He added: “I struggled a little bit against Slough, coming on up front. I think I was dropping too much to get the ball, but when you’re playing up front you’ve just got to stay between the sticks.

“Aaron said just stay between the posts, and if it goes wide, get yourself in the box. I’ll take that tap in all day. We’ve struggled to bounce back at times this season, so to do it after Slough was massive. We’ve got a clear ambition to be in those play-offs, and everyone believes we’re capable of doing that.”

Next up for the Magpies is a short trip to Chesham United on Saturday. They were deflated by an opening day loss at home to the Generals so will be keen to make amends at The Meadow this weekend.