Barton United’s run of three clean sheets in as many outings came to an end as they were beaten by Team Dudley in the Birmingham Vase.
With several changes to the team and on a long pitch open to the elements in the middle of a running track at the Dell Stadium it was going to be vital for the Black Swans to continue their high pressing fast tempo game – but this didn’t happen and it was the home team who had much the better of the opening 20 minutes.
But despite the pressure, Barton hung in and prevented any clear cut chances being made and started to grow into the game themselves.
And their determination was rewarded when they pressed a Dudley goal kick to force an error which allowed Stack to tuck home from 18 yards.
The goal gave Barton greater control and seemed to deflate the opposition with more and more pressure from the visitors until the half-time whistle – and they could have gone in further ahead had with good chances falling to Stack, Holding and Thompson.The first 15 minutes of the second period proved to be crucial in the outcome of the game with Barton’s gameplan seemingly left in the changing rooms. The hosts changed their tactics, playing with two strikers and pressing the ball much higher causing several unforced errors in the visiting defence.
Dudley got their rewards from an unlikely source as an attacker looped a header over keeper Fogarty following a corner.
The goal seemed to light a fuse in the home team as their work rate all over the pitch increased and this pressure quickly lead to a second after a poor short clearance from Fogarty straight to a midfielder allowed him to feed a team-mate to finish.
Barton still struggled to find any rhythm in the second half and found themselves 3-1 down after another corner lead to a header being knocked down to an unmarked striker to tap home at the back post.
The Black Swans finally came to life with Dale Barton and top scorer Martin introduced in place of Danny Barton and Stack. Several crosses from Martin flashed across the goal and tremendous long range efforts from Holding and Douglas rattled the frame of the goal.
But it was Dudley who added a fourth on the counter attack with the influential number 10 swiveling on the edge of the box to drive a low shot into the bottom corner past an outstretched Fogarty.
Any remaining Barton resistance promptly faded and the brief encounter into the Birmingham Vase was over for another year.
United will hope a week without a game will now help to refocus the players ahead of the first v second clash in the league at home to Alcester on November 1.
Meanwhile, Barton United Reserves drew 2 -2 with TL Darby losing their 100 per cent win record, but they do remain unbeaten and top of the Burton and District League. The goals came from Andrew Talpur and Andy Chambers.
