BARTON failed to build on the previous week’s resounding win as they suffered a 5-3 defeat at home to Worcester in ENERG Midlands Division One.
The pre-match message from manager Jim Williams was for more of the previous week’s attitude and play.
The only changes from the previous week saw Adam Foster absent from the squad and Dan Brittain handed his firstteam league debut, and he put in a strong performance.
Barton started poorly, encouraging waves of Worcester attacks and showing poor composure, needlessly giving the ball away.
Before long, this gifted Worcester the lead 10 minutes into what proved a busy half for goalkeeper Mike Parr.
Barton’s dire start continued as they conceded another in somewhat unfortunate fashion, with the ball being deflected into the D and the path of the opposition forward.
The second goal appeared to wake Barton up as they began to control possession for longer periods and started to threaten the Worcester goal.
Five minutes before half-time, Barton pressure paid off following good work from midfielder Sam Manning and Mark Ashton-Blanksby.
The Worcester defender stopped a certain goal on the line with his foot and Barton were awarded a penalty stroke which Jacob Foster coolly converted for a half-time score of 2-1.
The talk at the interval from Williams and skipper Jon Naseby was to maintain the better play from the end of the first half and to continue their improved control of the ball.
Barton started the second half well, keeping control of the ball to a greater extent, but still gave it away at silly times when trying to force the play.
This was indeed their undoing as Worcester caught the home side napping on the counter-attack, leaving them outnumbered at the back as they conceded the key fourth goal of the contest.
After this, the game always seemed just out of reach of the hosts and Barton were made to pay again, with some poor marking in the D making it 4-1 to the away side.
Barton showed they still had fighting spirit and kept pushing for goals through consistent pressure on the Worcester defence.
A string of short corner chances were presented, one of which was precisely put away by forward Ash Parr to make it 4-2.
Barton pushed to try and put more pressure on, but in doing so they gave away a short corner themselves which was expertly despatched by the opposition.
Barton did go down the other end to win themselves another short corner and midfielder Craig Tilke flicked home, but the clock was fast running down and the score remained at 5-3.
Barton will look to bounce straight back on Saturday away to Warwick University, 3.30pm push-back.
