Conditions are a leveller in Barton stalemate

Barton Rovers ended a torrid week with a well earned point at Aylesbury United on Saturday as the weather conditions played havoc on the game.

The Blues went into the game on after their clubhouse was burgled in midweek, although they had signed highly rated young defender Will Wright from Hitchin Town.

With gale force winds bellowing down on the muddy pitch both sides struggled to find their feet.

The Ducks, playing into the wind, had an early half chance when Sonny French tried his luck from range but was way off target, while Barton’s Alex O’Brien followed suit, only marginally closer.

Rovers could have taken the lead on 20 minutes as Ashton Grant wriggled free in the box and got his shot away, as home keeper Zaki Oualah fumbled it against the outside of the post.

O’Brien was next up to put Oualah to work with the latter saving superbly with his legs.

After the break, Rovers now playing into an even stronger wind sat back slightly and took no chances, always leaving men behind the ball.

Aylesbury came close on a few occasions before Grant beat keeper Ouala only to be denied by the woodwork.

O’Brien could have sealed the points for Rovers late on as he beat Oualah to the ball 30 yards from goal, but his shot held up in the wind and was cleared off the line.

Rovers host Bedford Town in the North Beds Charity Cup semi-final this evening.