BARTON go into the Christmas break bottom of ENER-G Midlands Division One after losing out in a seven-goal thriller at mid-table Streetly on Saturday.
The visitors felt they had a good chance of getting a result, with Nathan Deacon the only player missing from their squad.
They looked to set their stall out as normal and frustrate Streetly.
The match started at a frantic pace, with both sides producing great spells of counter-attacking hockey which the two defences dealt with well.
However, it was Streetly who struck first, with a well-disguised pass setting things up for a good deflected finish.
This did not deter Barton, who were matching Streetly in all areas of the pitch and opening their defence up through good work from Jacob Foster in midfield and strong running by the forward line of Ash Parr, Will Rawbon, Mark Ashton- Blanksby and Luke Deacon.
They gained a short corner and up stepped Foster to slot an unstoppable drag-flick low into the corner to bring parity to the scoreline.
However, as in previous weeks, Barton took their foot of the gas and allowed Streetly to play, and an uncharacteristically poor pass from full-back Jamie Foster presented a Streetly forward with a one-on-one chance with goalkeeper Mike Parr.
The Barton custodian was left stranded and, as a result, Streetly regained the lead, which they carried into the half-time interval.
The message at half-time from manager Jim Williams was to continue the good attacking play, apply pressure further forward and improve ball retention.
Bearing this in mind, the second half started as a close affair, with both sides wide open and Barton going for the goal to get them back in the game.
However, Streetly made them pay with a quick free-hit outside the D which they drove in, teeing up a simple finish to leave Barton with an even bigger task.
Yet again, Barton were unfazed by the scoreline and continued with the pressure.
Jacob Foster was teed up after good work by Sam Manning and fired in a reverse-stick shot past a stranded keeper to make it 3-2.
Almost immediately, however, Streetly increased their lead through what was a very soft goal from a short corner, with a wayward shot falling to a home player to finish.
This sparked Barton into a relentless barrage of attacking hockey as they pressed every ball to try and get what would have been a deserved result.
Barton earned themselves another short corner from which Jacob Foster fired home to complete his hat-trick.
The visitors, only needing one more goal to snatch a draw, continued to push in the closing minutes, but Streetly played out the game to inflict another defeat on Barton.
Results are going to have to come in the second half of the season.
They return to action on January 14 away to Stratford.
