Resurgent Rovers sink Fleet to end league campaign on a high

Two goals in three second half minutes saw Barton Rovers end their Evo-Stik Southern League Division One Central campaign on a high with a 2-0 victory at Fleet Town on Saturday.

Despite Rovers having a fully-fit squad to choose, it was Fleet who started the game in style as Barton struggled to get out of the blocks.

Keeper Kyle Forster was called into action several times and it wasn’t until midway through the half Barton started to get into the game.

A great effort from Bilal Hassan sailed just over and then the unmarked George Brinkman put his effort wide from inside the six-yard box.

However, the game petered out as the half finished goalless.

Boss Dan Kennoy’s half time team talk saw Rovers come out fighting as they dominated the second half.

Efforts from Hassan, Jermaine Hall and Paul Andrews were all wide of the mark, before Bobby Dance found some space and lobbed the advancing keeper from 20 yards to put Barton 1-0 up on 63 minutes.

And Rovers doubled their lead three minutes later when Rhys Hoenes made a cracking run wide down the right and his pinpint cross was headed home by Barton top scorer Hall as the visitors controlled the game to the finish.

Kennoy added “We were very poor for the first 20 minutes, but after that we played some decent stuff.

“Bilal ran his socks off and dominance at the back kept us the clean sheet along with the win which is always pleasing.

“It’s great to finish as we started the season in the winning way and also in some style.

“We will now concentrate on our North Beds Charity Cup final against Langford on May 9 so the lads won’t be getting a rest as we will train next week.”

The game between Barton and Langford takes place at Stotfold and kicks off at 7.45pm.