Rovers fall to defeat at Arlesey

Barton Rovers’ stuttering season continued on Saturday as they went down 1-0 at neighbours Arlesey Town.

In a scrappy game with few chances Rovers found themselves behind after 20 minutes after a failed attempt to clear a cross saw an unmarked Tony Williams slot home from close range.

Barton should have levelled it up almost immediately when some great work from Alex O’Brien found James Bishop in space but his rasping shot hit the outside of the post.

Rovers keeper Kyle Forster was called into action late on in the half as a sweetly struck shot looked goalbound but for his outstretched hand.

The second half was much of the same with neither team keeping hold of the ball for any continued period.

Rovers did come to life in the last 10 minutes but failed to trouble home keeper Nick Thompson as it finished with a narrow win for the home side.

The result saw Barton 18th in the table, but are still nine points above the drop zone with seven games to play.

Rovers host Petersfield Town on Tuesday evening, before a visit to play-off chasing Aylesbury on Thursday, while they also entertain table-topping Kings Langley on Saturday.

Rovers: Forster, Condon (Brickman 65), Perry, Reynolds, Andrews, Plowright, Bishop, Grant, Ingham, O’Brien, Ironton (Nolan 61).

Subs: Kilroy, Sweeney, Wallbank.

Attendance: 117.