IN football, timing is everything.

The Villagers had not won any of their previous eight games this season, and trailed in this one on Tuesday.

Manager Steve Lloyd hopes a recovery to eliminate Penistone Church, opponents buoyed by beating Whitby in the FA Cup the previous week, can have a galvanising effect on his players.

“We must use that spirit we showed as a template for what’s required,” he said.

“To respond like we did, particularly after conceding a controversial goal in the first half, was great to see.

“It would have been easy for heads to drop but they didn’t. Instead we grew stronger.”

Heavy rain on Saturday prompted a first meeting to be postponed with the pitch at Townfield left waterlogged.

The conditions were little better when the game did start.

Barnton will not have felt good either after Brett Lovell opportunistically nicked the ball from goalkeeper Chris Kiernan when he attempted to kick clear from his hands.

The goal stood though.

Captain Chris Smith tried his luck twice as the home team attempted to rally, although they were grateful to their custodian for preventing Penistone from scoring a second.

The visitors flew from the blocks at the start of the second half too, and Kiernan produced his best.

It inspired his teammates, and they levelled when Ryan Malone bundled a loose ball over the line.

Barnton survived another scare when Nathan Keightley fluffed a header with the goal at his mercy, and when Kieran Ryan’s attempt from distance struck an upright.

Lloyd sent on Jack Woolley and Chris Bandell to pep up his team’s attack, and they duly delivered.

Bandell stayed composed to make it 2-1 after Chris Smith’s powerful shot was parried into his path by Penistone number one Marcus Amber.

He then combined with Woolley and Smith to tee up Jack Irlam for a match-clinching third goal.

“There was a spell in the second half when Chris [Kiernan] kept us in the tie,” added Lloyd.

“I felt we always posed a threat on the counter though, and once we played at our tempo I thought the lads showed what they can do.”

A trip to Dronfield Town, from the Northern Counties East League’s second division, is the Villagers’ reward later this month.

Barnton | Kiernan (GK), Stafford, McKillop, Ford, Mannion, Houghton, Irlam (James McShane 90), O’Connor, Malone (Woolley 72), Webster (Bandell 74), Smith Subs not used Callum Richards, Shuttlewood (GK) Goals Malone 55, Bandell 80, Irlam 87

Referee Carl Rooney

Attendance 35