Barton's stunner secures draw

The South West Strikers produced a courageous come-from-behind 3-3 draw against Rockingham in the Willow Bridge Cup at the Lark Hill Hockey Stadium on Saturday afternoon, finishing in third place and booking a finals play-off against Newman Knights on Friday night.

The fight back from 3-1 down for a draw contained the best goal scored by the Strikers this season and described by many as one of the best they had seen.

The goal of the season came from the stick of Bunbury’s newest international.

A fortnight ago Elliot Barton graduated from State schoolboys Under-16 representation to Australian recognition and on Saturday he celebrated his new status with a sensational solo goal.

The Strikers were 3-1 down early in the second half when Barton intercepted a Rockingham pass 40m from goal and took off up the middle like a scalded cat, dragging past a couple of half backs, dink passing to himself past another and finally smashing the bouncing ball home for a scintillating goal.

‘‘That goal gave the whole team a lift,’’ coach Allan McGeoch said.

‘‘It was absolute quality — the best I have seen for a long time and certainly the Strikers’ best.’’

Already in command, the Strikers lifted another notch and nearly levelled with just as sensational an effort when State youth player Michael Nicoli dived full length to deflect a Nayton Colombera cross, only for the ball to agonisingly shave the outside of the post.

Matt Anderson converted a Sean Beckett cross late in the first half to pull back a 2-0 deficit and Barton’s beauty was followed by a deft Nicoli drag flick with 15 minutes left to square the match.

A disallowed goal and a penalty stroke which, if given, could have catapulted the Strikers into the promotion-relegation play-off with minor premiers the Suburban Lions, with Rockingham through on goal difference.