Leaders Barton Rovers have something to Crow about after Royston win

League leaders Barton Rovers emerged comfortable 4-0 victors over near neighbours Royston Town in their top-of-the-table clash in Calor Southern League Division One Central on Saturday.

Barton boss Dan Kennoy said: “It was easily our best performance of the season against a very strong Royston Town side. I’m led to believe that only three of their 16-man squad were not on contract!

“We were fortunate to open the scoring as ultimately it was a goalkeeping error, but take nothing away from Jermaine Hall, he still had a lot to do.

“It was a crucial time to score because Royston were starting to apply some pressure and the old cliché of goals change games couldn’t have been truer. From that point I knew the lads would not let the opportunity pass them by.

“It was a great result and one that I think will make people stand up and take notice of us even though we have been top of the table for a few weeks now.

“Royston are a good side and will bounce back from this result, but to have an eight-point cushion on them at this stage of the season is incredible.

“Kyle Lincoln, who has signed from AFC Dunstable, had a good debut and Joe Reynolds who joined us from Ware came off the bench and scored the third goal which killed the game, so I believe our squad is strong enough to continue to challenge.”

Both sides went for it early on as Rovers took the lead on 22 minutes when dithering visiting keeper Zach Binge lost the ball on the edge of the area and Hall slotted home.

Hall was then felled from behind in the box on 32 minutes and Bobby Dance stepped up to convert the penalty to double the Blues’ lead.

Royston looked to get back into it, but things turned sour for them just before the interval as debutant Jahi Dhillon was dismissed for a second caution.

Bookings flowed freely in the second half as the officials did their best to control a niggly affair.

Rovers debutant Joe Reynolds put the game out of Royston’s reach with a superb header on 75 minutes before Luke Knight tapped home a loose ball from close range with seven minutes to go to seal an emphatic win for Barton against their fellow promotion hopefuls.

This Tuesday Barton host Stotfold in the first round of the Bedfordshire Senior Cup and on Saturday go to Aylesbury United in the league.

Attendance: 122.

Star Blue: Peter Gatti.