Following a gruelling 120 minutes the previous week Barton United’s focus this week turned to league action and the visit of FC Stratford.

Barton began the game at a high tempo moving the ball quickly and effectively on what had the potential to be a difficult surface. Early moves led to a string of opportunities without a clear chance being produced with the right sided combination of Andy Lee and Craig Swinfield causing havoc for the oppositions defence.

It wasn’t long before the inevitable first goal came after a slick move down the right side again involving Lee and Swinfield led to the ball finding an unmarked Nathan Hunt to smash the ball home from 18 yards, although the Stratford keeper may have felt he could have done better.

The second goal wasn’t long in coming from a snap shot on the turn by Pete Martin beating the keeper down at his near post, where again it seemed he may have been able to do better.

Barton were now very much on top of the game so much so the opposition made their first sub inside the first 20 minutes. As George Stack and Sean Wallis began to pull the strings in the middle of the park opportunities for players to get into the box became even more frequent. It was centre half and captain Jonathan Douglas who charged forward to put a powerful header on to a Dale Barton cross to give the hosts a commanding 3-0 lead.

However following the opposition’s substitution and potential complacency from Barton, FC Stratford began to establish themselves in the game.

The visitors broke up a dangerous attack and set themselves free to counter and with slicking passing and poor defending were able to convert their first chance of the game to bring the score back to 3-1 just before the break.

The second half seemed to follow a similar pattern to the end of the first half with Barton appearing to lose control of a game they were so dominant in the first 20 minutes and the opposition again making further changes and having an increased share of possession.

A defensive mix up between substitute Scott Cobley and his defenders allowed a Stratford midfielder to power his way into the box, unleashing a shot that flew into the top corner past a helpless Jake Fogarty in goal.

The strike seemed to reignite the Black Swans who now began to attack with pace particularly through Barton and Tom Braithwaite down the left side. The pressure quickly turned into a second goal for Hunt who calmly slotted home following a driving run from the middle of midfield.

Barton were now in control able to give first team run outs to Dave Stewart and debutant Ant Warrington as a reward for recent strong performances for the reserves. It was the latter who got the fifth goal following in at the back post to crash home the ball following another error from the Stratford keeper.

With that the game was won and Barton saw out the remaining minutes to secure three points and a welcome boost to their goal difference.

Barton United Reserves played a friendly versus against Rec FC, winning 2-1. The goalscorers were Rob Houston and Dan Hickinbottom.