Foster hits winner as Barton break their losing streak
BARTON broke a three-game losing streak in the Midlands Premier Division with a 2-1 win away to Northampton Saints.
In a strong start, Barton were able to get Ash Parr and Adam Foster in behind the Northampton defence early, Parr being denied by the home goalkeeper.
A burst through the middle by Jacob Buxton then led to Jon Coleman winning the first short corner of the game.
After Jake Foster’s initial drag flick was palmed away by the keeper, the ball fell to Jamie Jenkins who kept his head and shot past the defenders on the line to put Barton ahead.
The lead did not last long, as a Northampton forward was able to fire home after mishitting his first attempt and wrongfooting the Barton defence in the process.
The game remained close through the second half and Barton needed a superb low save from keeper Duncan Mcguigan to keep them level after a short corner.
The winning goal came from another Barton short corner.
After Adam Foster wriggled his way through the Northampton defence he found a defender’s foot to win the corner.
This time Jake Foster made no mistake and fired his first effort into the top corner.
Barton started to ramp up the pressure and won a string of further short corners, only to find the home keeper in excellent form.
With a few minutes left, some neat play from Coleman set him free down the right to find Parr.
He made short work of two tracking defenders and rounded the keeper, but could not hit the target to make the victory more clear-cut.
Barton are at home to Stratford on Saturday (2.30pm).
BURTON raced to a 3-0 half-time lead, but had to hang on for a 3-2 home win over University of Birmingham thirds which sees them two points clear at the top of Midlands Division One.
They started well and took the lead when Sulman Razzaq slotted a sweetly-struck reverse stick shot into the net.
He soon doubled his tally with a tap-in after a well worked team move.
And it was 3-0 after a Jamie Cooper aerial was missed by a defender, letting in Ben Elson, who unselfishly squared for Nate Harrison to finish into an empty net.
Birmingham began to regroup, but Burton defended well to keep it at 3-0 up to half-time.
The second half, however, was a different story as Burton failed to string passes together and gave up the ball too often, inviting pressure on themselves.
Birmingham got back into the game with a shot from a short corner
and scored a second after a wave of attacks from a goalmouth scramble.
Burton missed a few chances to stretch their lead again but their backline stood strong, along with some good game management to stay in front to the end, Razzaq being named player of the match.
BURTON Ladies also took on University of Birmingham thirds, but they found themselves 3-0 down at half-time against a quick attack.
When they regrouped, Leigh Alexandre, Kim Ascott, Izzy Ridley, Megan Bignell and Bethan Robinson worked well in defence.
After the break, Burton had more possession and a few chances, but found the students’ defence in solid form.
Eventually, Birmingham added a fourth goal and Burton’s last chance to get on the scoresheet, from a short corner, went begging.
Player of the match went to Elizabeth Snelling for her efforts running the midfield.
Other results, men: Burton thirds 6 (Neil Massey (3), Kevin Stanyon, Will Flear, Martin Brooks) Nottingham Players seconds 3; North Notts seconds 1 Burton fourths 0;
Women: Lichfield thirds 4 Burton seconds 0; Burton thirds 3 (Jane Palmer, Hollie Logan, Lisa Davies) Ashby fourths 0.