AN AFTERNOON TEEMING WITH RAIN THE BARTON SIDE GOT OFF TO A DECENT START, SOME OF THE PASSING FOOTBALL THAT BEEN PRODUCED OVER EARLIER GAMES WAS FLUENT, HOWEVER HAD NO REAL END PRODUCT, WELFORD BECAME A REAL THREAT AT SET PIECES, WHICH BARTON DID WELL TO COPE WITH, THE GAME ENTERED A PERIOD OF SCRAPPYNESS, WITH NEITHER SIDE ABLE TO TAKE A HOLD OF THE GAME. ON 37 MINUTES A NEAT THROUGH BALL FROM NATHAN JONES WAS PICKED UP BY NEW SIGNING KRIS HALL ON THE EDGE OF THE BOX, JUST AS THE WATCHING CROWD THOUGHT HE HAD TAKEN THE BALL TO WIDE, HALL SLOTTED THE BALL UNDER THE ONCOMING KEEPER, ROUNDING OFF A DECENT MOVE FOR BARTON BARTON WERE 1-0 UP AND TOOK THIS LEAD THROUGH UNTIL HALF TIME.

BARTON CAME OUT IN THE 2ND HALF AND HAD TO WITHSTAND SOME INTENSE PRESSURE FROM THE AWAY SIDE, A MIXTURE OF EXCELLENT DEFENDING, GOALKEEPING AND A BIT OF LUCK BARTON WERE HOLDING ON. AFTER A FORMATION CHANGE FROM ELLSON AND BRYAN, IT LOOKED AS IF BARTON WOULD SETTLE FOR A 1-0 WIN. ON 60 MINUTES A DOUBLE CHANGE INTRODUCED TWO BRIGHT STARS OF THE FUTURE, DALE REECE AND MICHAEL CIRELLI EAGERLY CAME ON. AFTER SOME GOOD LINK UP PLAY DOWN THE RIGHT CIRELLI SLOTTED A BALL INSIDE TO HALL, JUST INSIDE THE WELFORD BOX, WHICH WAS CLINICALLY SLOTTED HOME-2-0.
BARTON MANAGED TO SEE THE GAME THROUGH, TO BEGIN THE SEASON ON A GREAT WIN, AGAINST A DECENT WELFORD SIDE.