Barton get job done in second half for victory
BARTON made hard work of it at times, and should have scored more, but they eased past Midlands Premier Division strugglers Stratford 4-2 at home.
Stratford started the game better and took the lead after 10 minutes with a back post goal by Sam Fisher.
That got Barton going and they equalised quickly through Jamie Jenkins after an aerial from Jacob Foster set Jon Coleman free down the right to cross for Jenkins to push the ball past the keeper.
They did not wait long to take the lead, either, after a smart passing move down the right which got the forwards in around the back and the ball was squared for John Palmer to make no mistake in front of goal.
Barton then had a string of short corners without making them pay, Liam Goode coming the closest after a well-timed run at the back post saw him deflect one just the wrong side of the post.
But they were caught on the break before half time and Tom Crowfoot equalised to make it 2-2 at half-time.
In a period of extended pressure after the break, the home side were finding their rhythm, playing the ball round with purpose and stretching Stratford.
The forwards were finding plenty of room, but again a string of short corners brought no result as Stratford stood firm and pulled off some terrific on-the-line saves.
The pressure finally paid off after a ball was played to the back post from Jacob Buxton and Adam Foster, unmarked, deflected the ball past the keeper.
Soon after, man of the match Jon Coleman wrapped up the points when he was played in down the left and pushed the ball inside the near post to make it 4-2.
Barton are at home again on Saturday looking to make it three wins on the spin against Boots (2.30pm).
BURTON kept their two-point lead at the top of Midlands One with an efficient 2-0 win away to Harborne seconds.
With a slightly depleted squad due to unavailability and illness, they expected a close game and initially struggled to react to a gameplan which saw Harborne with high forwards looking to feed on long aerial balls from one of their centre-backs.
However, strong tackling from the defensive unit kept the forwards at bay, with keeper Harry Taylor mopping up any shots that found their way through.
Burton found their way into the match as the half progressed, but the break arrived goalless.
A positive start to the second half saw Burton take the lead.
A mazy run from right to left from Abdul Manan finished with a reverse stick shot that may well have been going in, but Sulman Razzaq, on the line, made sure.
Encouraged, Manan went on a series of dribbles, some more successful than others.
Eventually, one of them took him into the D again and, on the reverse again, he finished superbly to double the lead.
Burton never looked in trouble after this, even after losing a player to a yellow card.
A 10 v 11, Harborne did threaten, but a string of saves from Taylor gave him the sniff of a first clean sheet of the season.
Once parity was restored, Burton shifted into a halfcourt press to try to protect the clean sheet, and while Harborne still had the bulk of possession, the leaders held out.
BURTON Ladies could take only a squad of 12 away to Harborne and went down 4-2.
It took a good 15 minutes for Burton to settle as they experimented with a new game plan and formation and Harborne took full advantage, finding gaps through midfield and overloading the defence to score twice.
At 2-0 down, Burton dug deep, improved and created chances.
Centre forward and player of the match Grace Spendlove zig-zagged through the Harborne back line several times and when she won a short corner, captain Chloe Logan converted with a powerful shot.
Another short corner broke down, but Elizabeth Snelling was in front of the keeper to deflect the ball into the net and make it 2-2 at half-time.
However, with a squad of 16 to rotate, Harborne, strong and fast in the second half, lasted the course better.
They regained their lead within a few minutes of the restart and kept the pressure on to add a fourth.
Other results, men: Burton seconds 4 (Matt Evans 2, Alex Farmer, own goal) Droitwich Spa 2; Burton thirds 1 (Kevin Stanyon) Mansfield seconds 0.
Women: Burton seconds 0 Stafford seconds 3; Burton thirds 1 (Hollie Logan) Ilkeston seconds 1.
Mixed: Leek 5 Burton Rhinos 0.