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Joey Barrington bt
Alister Walker
12/14, 11/6, 11/7, 9/11, 12/10 (90m)
 The
evening started with some funny words and player introductions from
Jonah Barrington, one of the all-time great squash players.
The match started with both players willing to engage in long
rallies, and there were lots of crowd who were interacting with Joey
and Alister.
In the first game, Joey led 5/3, then made two mistakes in a row
that helped Alister to back into the game. At 8/6 to Alister, Joey
made a lucky shot from the serve and then Alister lost his
concentration and made three mistakes in a row. At 10/9 to Joey, he
tried to finish the game quickly but he hit the tin and at 11/10 to
Joey he hit another tin. At 12/11 it was the best point of the game,
a long rally which Walker won with a very nice forehand volley. Joey
then hit two tins in a row which to give Alister the first game.
The second game Joey started very well and there were many mistakes
from Walker, Joey was in control in all of this game and
finished it 11/6.
The third game was really amazing, point for point until 5/5, Walker
made two mistakes that helped Joey to take the lead, 7/5 then 9/7.
At 10/7 Joey made a very good drop shot to finish the game 11/7.
In the fourth game Joey started attacking from everywhere and he
didn't give the chance to walker to play his game, opening up a 5/1
lead. Joey then lost his concentration and made three mistakes in a
row to help Walker to get back. After that we saw that Alister was
tired and we thought that Joey was going to finish the match.
Alister wanted to finish the ball early, he didn't want to make long
rallies because he got tired.
At 6/6 Alister made two drop shots to take the lead, at 9/8 it was
really a very long rally but a questionable decision from the
referee helped Alister to reach game ball then he finished the game
with a lovely forehand volley drop to make it two games all.
In the last game Alister was trying to slow the pace, point for
point to 5/5. Joey played a lob and Alister jumped and put it in the
nick, a really amazing shot. Joey took the lead 10/7 after that he
lost his concentration and made three mistakes which helped Alister
to get back into the match. At 10/10 Walker made a mistake and Joey
took an advantage from that, then he won the last point and the
match and celebrated his birthday with the win.
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 "It
was a friendly match but very competitive.
"It's always very close when we play, 3/2, we trained hard together
over Christmas and the quality of the match was very good.
"Anyway I am happy to win in my home club and it was really a very
good crowd."
(28 today)
 "I
really enjoyed playing here, it was a good match with lots of
interaction with the crowd.
"Now I am going to play the BSPA in Edinburgh, then the Nationals."
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