Dramatic finale denies 10-man Barton Royston win in controversial encounter

An injury-time goal saw victory snatched away from 10-man Barton Rovers as they were cruelly denied victory at play-off rivals Royston Town in Calor Southern League Division One Central on Saturday.

The referee had a huge effect on the game as Rovers were held to a controversial 2-2 draw as they played 84 minutes with 10 men.

Barton seemed to be heading for victory thanks to Kim Forsythe’s seventh-minute opener and Paul Andrews’ 50th-minute strike, despite striker Bobby Dance’s ninth-minute sending off.

However, Robbie Mason hit back on 61 minutes with Reece Dobson grabbing a heartbreaking equaliser in the second minute of stoppage-time.

Boss Dan Kennoy said: “It is never easy to accept dropping points by conceding in added time, but I cannot fault the lads’ efforts today.

“They worked so hard for over 80 minutes with just the 10 players on the pitch and deserved all three points, but uncharacteristically we conceded two goals from set-pieces which let Royston off the hook today.

“We have to take the positives from the game and despite being a man down for most of the game we more than competed with a play-off rival and didn’t allow them to reduce that four-point gap we have on them.

“That performance today will be so important come the end of the season, I’m sure of it.

“I felt Bobby was dealt with very harshly by the referee, it was a yellow card at the very most.

“That early on in the game 99 out of 100 refs would have just given him a talking to.

“What we are disappointed about is that it happened straight in front of the linesman, but the referee almost fell over scrambling to get his red card out of his pocket without even consulting him.

“These things happen though and we move on, we have the strength in depth to deal with these suspensions so I’m not overly concerned, although we will have to consider bringing in another body so that it does not affect our play-off chances.”

Forsythe gave Rovers the lead when he sent the keeper’s sliced clearance back over his head, only for Dance to be sent off for a foul two minutes later.

Andrews doubled their lead four minutes into the second half with a rocket header from Luke Knight’s corner.

A hotly-disputed goal that didn’t even appear to cross the line and was scored via a foul was then credited to Mason to give the Crows hope.

And they snatched a point in stoppage-time when Dobson, the smallest man on the pitch, rose highest to head home a corner.

This Tuesday Rovers host Luton Town in the semi-finals of the Bedfordshire Senior Cup, on Saturday entertain Potters Bar Town in the league and the following Tuesday are home to play-off rivals Kettering Town in the league.

Meanwhile, Barton’s home game against Slough Town has been rearranged for Thursday, April 3.

Chairman Darren Whiley added: “Dan Kennoy and all the squad have done an awesome job this season to get us into play-off contention and every single one of the lads are more focused than ever on maintaining the push.

“It’s without doubt the best group of honest, hard-working, dedicated players the club has seen for many a year and there’s a real buzz at Sharpenhoe Road at the moment.”

Referee: John Steel (Ely).

Attendance: 235.