Barton thump Chertsey

After going down 2-0 at home to AFC Hayes on Saturday, Barton roared back and were ahead on four minutes when Layne Eadie produced a delightful chip over the keeper.

Chertsey equalised on the half hour mark, but Rovers were back in front when Luke Knight fired home from outside the area.

After the break, Barton were dominant as Ricky Case’s hard work was rewarded with a double on 67 and 86 minutes, before Phil Smeaton set up Scott Joseph to round the keeper in the final minute and complete the rout.

Rovers boss Dan Kennoy was delighted his side bounced back from the weekend’s defeat to record their best away success of the campaign.

He said: “Saturday was a really disappointing result because it was a game we were expecting to win.

“I think that shows how far we’ve come, we have set standards and expectations this season but Saturday’s result just wasn’t good enough.

“It was pleasing to see our reaction at Chertsey Town. We wanted to put things right and we did it the right way with a great performance.

“We have another big game Saturday away to Ashford Town and if we can get another three points there, we can really start to look at the chasing pack for a play-off place with half the season played.”

Rovers have also announced two new signings with goalkeeper Kyle Forster and striker Theo Swaine joining the club.

Kennoy added: “Kyle has been with us for a month or so now and been playing really well for the reserves. He is a young keeper that has previously spent time with Watford as a youngster.

“We’ve signed him on first team papers to provide cover for Richard Wilmot but also to give him some experience of being in and around the first team.

“Theo is well thought of on the local footballing scene and he comes to us from Arlesey Town. I tried to sign him in the summer but he opted to stay at Arlesey. He has a lot of potential but I explained to him that he needed to be at a club that was going to give him an opportunity to fulfil that potential.

“We’ll invest a lot of time and effort in him but he is very raw and will need time to adjust but he’s another young player we are lucky to have at the club.”