BARTON contributed to their own downfall as they failed to hang onto a lead at Chesterfield and were forced to settle for a share of the spoils.
The visitors went into the relegation six-pointer with a number of the squad struck down by flu but boosted by the return of Chris Mason and Mike Parr.
With conditions less than ideal, the game started slowly, with Barton looking solid but without any real possession.
It was the creativity of Jacob Foster and Sam Manning which finally sparked the game into life, releasing Ashley Parr down the Barton left.
He left the full-back chasing shadows as he danced past him to set up Will Rawbon, who fired agonisingly wide.
Barton continued to pressure and create chances for Luke Deacon, Rawbon and Foster, but they were unable to break the deadlock.
On the odd occasion Chesterfield broke through the defensive line, goalkeeper Mike Parr was more than equal to it as he put in one of his best performances of the season.
The message from coach Jimmy Williams prior to the game was to attack from the outset and Barton were soon reaping the rewards, earning a number of short corners — one of which resulted in a penalty stroke.
After the ball had played pinball in the Chesterfield D, it fell to Craig Tilke, but his wellstruck shot hit a defender’s body on the line.
Jacob Foster stepped up and duly delivered with a casually dispatched effort.
Soon after, Barton hit the self-destruct button, with fullback Mason receiving a sinbin to leave his side down to 10 men yet again this season.
Chesterfield took advantage of this and, following wave after wave of pressure, the hosts won a penalty corner.
After a slick corner routine, Parr was left stranded for the forward to tap in from a yard despite the best efforts of Manning on the line.
After Mason’s return to the action, the visitors soon got back into the game and from another corner, the chance was created for Tilke to give them the lead again.
However, with the goal at his mercy, he put wide a chance he would normally have converted.
The final period of the game saw a Chesterfield player sinbinned for persistent fouling — a feature of their play which frustrated Barton’s normally exciting style of hockey.
The draw did little to help either side’s battle to avoid the drop.
Chesterfield remain bottom with two points from nine games, while Barton sit just above them on three points.
Barton host leaders Sutton Coldfield this weekend, 2.30pm push-back at Shobnall.
