BARTON grabbed a much-needed win as goals from Adam Foster and Luke Deacon either side of half-time secured victory at Warwick University.
The visitors knew that, after the previous week’s disappointing result, three points were a must.
Adam Foster returned to the side, but due to the absence of Ash Parr, Dan Brittain and captain Jon Naseby, Barton travelled with a bare 11.
Barton started the game fiercely and went close to opening the scoring in the first few minutes, with Jacob Foster’s low drag-flick saved on the line by a defender.
The pace of the game was very high, with both teams moving the ball well, making the first 20 minutes end to end.
Warwick went close to taking the lead on a number of occasions, but the stout defensive work of Mark Moore, Sam Manning, Jamie Foster, Adam Foster and goalkeeper Mike Parr ensured Barton kept them out.
The Barton breakthrough came midway through the first half, with Adam Foster producing a tidy finish from a well-worked short corner.
After the break, Warwick came out hard and pressed Barton well back in their own half but, thanks to great defensive work from forwards Will Rawbon and Nathan and Luke Deacon, the visitors managed to ride out the pressure.
It was 2-0 10 minutes into the second half after Mark Ashton-Blanksby played an exquisite sideline hit into the path of Luke Deacon in the D, and he expertly deflect it past a stranded keeper.
The latter stages saw Barton begin to tire and they were put to the test, going down to 10 men on three occasions through a mixture of inconsistent umpiring and sloppy tackling.
This pulled Barton together as a team and they were able to hold on through Adam Foster and captain for the day Craig Tilke, who stayed calm to ensure the three points were secured.
Barton face Stone at home this weekend, with a 4pm push-back at Uttoxeter.
They will be looking to secure another win after a close encounter last time around.
Late goal a cruel blow as ladies lose to the leaders
BARTON ladies went down to a late goal as Midlands Division Two leaders Sutton Coldfield ensured their was no happy return to action for the hosts.
The home side were without centre-back Helen Bloxham, but Bernie Fossett slotted into the back line alongside Manda Kirkland, Julie Manning and Amanda Ford.
As expected, Sutton dominated possession throughout, but the home side looked bright and alert from the first whistle and showed bundles of determination and discipline, which bodes well for their fight for survival.
Sutton worked the ball well in all areas of the pitch, but Barton stuck to their task defensively and denied the leaders any clear-cut chances inside the D.
Manning and Carol Watson, down the Barton right, worked effectively in tandem throughout the first half, providing an outlet from defence and working hard to cut out Sutton through balls from midfield.
Fossett was sharp at the back and beat the Sutton forwards to the ball on numerous occasions, much to the frustration of the visitors.
Barton’s forays into Sutton territory were few and far between and the scoreline remained 0-0 at half-time.
The message at the break from skipper Hannah Smith was for more of the same from her side.
They knew Sutton would be piling on the pressure for the final 35 minutes and would need to stay both mentally and physically strong.
On the restart, Barton were once again immediately on the back foot as Sutton had the luxury of a packed bench to rotate their players.
Some lively running from the Sutton midfield forced a series of penalty corners.
Kirkland, Barton’s number one runner at corners, was out sharp to the top of the D and goalkeeper Connie Wain made several superb clearances to deny the away side.
The game continued in much the same vain, with Sutton camped in the Barton half but struggling to create the space to open up any clear-cut chances, much to the credit of the hosts’ marking and decision making at the back.
Justine Woodcock and Beckie Hickman protected the centre of the pitch with great discipline and Sutton were forced wide.
Steph Welch and Jo Preston hustled and harried in the wide areas as the whole Barton team gave every ounce of effort to the cause.
However, their hearts were broken late in the second half as Sutton finally scored from a well-worked penalty corner routine which saw the ball deflected from close range into the Barton net.
Barton should take great pride and positivity from this narrow defeat to the leaders.
This weekend sees them travel to Solihull Blossomfield, where they will be looking to avenge the 1-0 defeat suffered in the first half of the season.
