Barton Rovers triumph to go join top

Calor Southern League Division One Central: Barton Rovers 1 AFC Hayes 0
Barton Rovers v AFC Hayes. Photos by Jo Cross. wk 43.Barton Rovers v AFC Hayes. Photos by Jo Cross. wk 43.
Barton Rovers v AFC Hayes. Photos by Jo Cross. wk 43.

A single Alex O’Brien strike was enough to earn Barton Rovers victory as they beat AFC Hayes 1-0 in atrocious conditions at Sharpenhoe Road on Tuesday night.

His 15th-minute goal was enough to earn Rovers all three points and move them joint top of Calor Southern League Division One Central, although Daventry Town lead on goal difference and have three games in hand.

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On a very wet pitch both teams started brightly with sixth-placed Hayes and third-placed Barton cancelling each other out in the early exchanges.

Ricky Case had an effort go wide and Bobby Dance failed to connect properly as his shot fizzed safely into the keeper’s arms.

As the heavens opened AFC’s front pair combined well to have a crack at goal only for the alert Kyle Forster to push the ball round the post.

But Barton took the lead on 15 minutes when O’Brien connected sweetly with a ball bouncing around in the 18-yard box to drive the winner past visiting keeper Ben Goode.

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With rain now lashing down and lightning over the Clappers, the game looked as if it may have to be abandoned due to the amount of standing water, but luckily the storm quickly passed as normality was restored.

An entertaining end-to-end half ensued with more of the same after the break.

Rovers defended sternly, while still seeking to extend their lead.

Shots from O’Brien, Dance and Rhys Hoenes all came to nothing, while at the other end Lawrie Shennan had the visitors’ best effort, but Forster saved.

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A 95th-minute corner saw Hayes throw everyone into the box, including their keeper whose rocket header was somehow kept out by a reflex Forster save from six yards.

With Goode in no rush to get back to his box Forster launched the ball towards an empty net as the referee called time.

Rovers enjoy a fourth home game in a row with Egham the visitors to Sharpenhoe Road on Saturday.

Before that Barton’s U18s host Harefield in FA Youth Cup third qualifying round action on Friday night at Sharpenhoe Road, kick-off 7.45pm.

Attendance: 90.