Barton hit six to stay up with challengers at break
BARTON saw off winless Stratford in the Midlands Premier League, a 6-2 victory keeping them in touch with the leaders going into the winter break.
They are fifth but only two points off third in a tight top half.
A full press from Barton early in the game soon paid off as Mark Latham beat two Stratford players to find Adam Foster on the base line.
He fired the ball across to find Harrison Kemp, who kept his cool and smashed in his first goal of the season for the first team.
Jamie Jenkins made it 2-0 soon after with Barton keeping the pressure on.
Ben Everett-li then put Latham through and his shot found a Stratford foot for a penalty corner, which Liam Goode stepped up to convert.
Stratford rallied and Will Powell in goal was forced into a couple of saves before the fourth goal, converted by Jacob Foster with a drag flick high into the net.
It was five before half-time when Adam Foster was fouled in the D and made no mistake with the penalty flick.
With the points virtually assured, Barton took their eye off the ball for a while in the second half and Stratford pulled two goals back.
That jolted the visitors into action again and they added a sixth goal with 10 minutes left, with Adam Foster on target again.
Barton go into the league break having won their last three in a row but their pre-christmas action is not done yet, as they welcome Oxfordshire side Banbury to Shobnall for the first time for a cup match on Sunday (1pm).
Barton seconds pulled off a 3-3 draw at home to Division Six North East leaders Ramgarhia after being 3-1 down with five minutes left.
Nick Eaton netted the equaliser to peg back the Derby side.
BARTON Ladies kept up the pressure on the top spot in Midland Division Four Peak, beating Uttoxeter 2-1.
They are fifth but four points off the top with a game in hand on three of the four teams ahead.
BURTON’S men were beaten 5-3 away to Sutton Coldfield in Midlands Division One.
A strong start from Sutton saw them charge into a 2-0 lead before Burton began passing with much more purpose and finding players high up the pitch.
They went close when Mark Northcott went around the Sutton keeper but his reverse stick shot just went over the bar.
Burton continued to press and Northcott made amends with a smart finish the next time he got a chance.
Then good work down the left from Jamie Cooper and Owen Raw led to a ball into the D for Owen Harrison to trap and finish emphatically and Burton were level at 2-2 at half-time.
Burton came out well in the second half but Sutton regained the lead from a short corner after a counter-attack.
Matt Wooldridge saw a shot slip wide before Sutton made it 4-2 but Burton battled back again and a ball into the D from the right found a diving Roshen Jay diverting the ball home first time between the keeper’s legs.
However, a goal from another short corner ensured the points went Sutton’s way.
BURTON’S women’s firsts went down 4-0 to a strong University of Nottingham seconds in Midlands Division One, only their second loss of the season and against one of the two unbeaten teams in the division.
Nottingham’s tight press put a lot of pressure on Burton’s midfield and they struggled to get the ball out the back quick enough.
Some good saves from Megan Bignell kept Burton in it but they still turned round 2-0 down.
In the second half, Burton came out a little stronger and more prepared to tackle the press, with increased possession and more chances going forward, often engineered by player of the match Grace Spendlove, working hard to get into space and take on defenders.
Two short corners brought good saves from the students’ keeper and Abi Cains saw her shot from a rebound clip the bar.
Nottingham slotted two more goals later in the half to confirm their win.
Burton women’s seconds went down 1-0 away to Wolverhampton in their last league match before the break.
Burton men’s seconds lost 2-0 to Stourport seconds. The thirds took on Belper fourths at home and went down 6-1 despite scoring first through Rob Pilgrim. Player of the match was Dan Horsley-elson.
Burton fourths came back from 2-0 down at half-time to draw 2-2 with Belper fifths, with Royston Kemp scoring both goals from short corners.
The fifths lost 6-0 to Nuneaton. The Burton Rhinos mixed team were short-handed for their trip to Stafford and, having been lent a few players, went down 4-1.
Ryan Flaherty, Katie Smith, Lexie Elliott and Ben Blakeman all had good games.