Romulus salute evergreen Dave Barnett

Oct 2 2010 by Colin Stoner, Birmingham Mail

RICHARD Evans told his players to watch and learn after evergreen Dave Barnett produced a defensive masterclass for Romulus.

With four defenders being ruled out, former Blues and Kidderminster Harriers defender Barnett laced up his boots once more at the age of 43 – and was man of the match, despite the 1-0 Birmingham Senior Cup defeat to Rugby Town on Tuesday night.

Evans said: “Dave was brilliant – he played the full 90 minutes and didn’t put a foot wrong.

“If he was ten years younger, I think we would win the league.”

Evans, though, admits the Roms are facing a changing of the guard, after Tyrone Fagan, Leon Blake, Tom Wilmore and Leo Brown all exited.

“We’ve been a mid-table side for the past three seasons and we’ve got to try to improve,” said Evans.

“We need to freshen things up.”