Lazarus-like Barton Rovers net two late goals to snatch unlikely draw

A frenetic finale saw Barton Rovers score twice in the closing minutes to snatch a 2-2 draw at home to St Ives Town in Calor Southern League Division One Central on Tuesday night.

Goals from Jon Stead (seven) and Jared Cunniff (80) looked to have won the game for the visitors.

But Bilal Hassan pulled a goal back on 83 minutes when his effort crept over the line and the Blues grabbed a well earned draw when Rhys Hoenes won a penalty and Bobby Dance fired home in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

Boss Dan Kennoy said: “It was great character and belief again from the lads tonight.

“We had played well for most of the game but found ourselves 2-0 down with 10 minutes to go.

“I felt with the substitutions we made we’d get one goal back, but to grab the second on 90 minutes, it really did feel like a win.

“It shows what a great squad we have this season and the togetherness we have. Long may it continue.”

St Ives took the lead when they rushed forward in numbers and took advantage of an undermanned Barton defence with Stead producing a neat finish into the bottom corner.

Both teams had chances in the first half, with Barton building spells of pressure but never seeming to have the cutting edge to find the crucial goal.

The second half brought sustained pressure from St Ives, who looked dangerous going forward, and had a couple of half chances to show before Cunniff add the second with another neat finish.

This however seemed to galvanise Barton and the introduction of substitutes Hoenes and Hassan seemed to give the Blues the edge they were missing.

Barton pulled a goal back when a combination of Nat Peacock and Hassan forced the ball past a resilient St Ives keeper from a corner.

And a rash tackle at the death brought Hoenes down inside the area and Dance coolly dispatched the penalty to earn Rovers a point from a game that had looked beyond them.

The draw kept Barton’s unbeaten record intact, but ugly scenes between the St Ives supporters and the referee followed the final whistle.

This weekend Rovers head to Slough Town.

Attendance: 85.