Silky Kilroy nets double to propel Barton back into the play-offs

A second half brace from Kevin Kilroy earned Barton Rovers a 2-0 victory at Uxbridge on Tuesday night to enhance their Calor Southern League Division One Central promotion hopes.

He opened the scoring on 64 minutes and made sure of victory with a second 15 minutes later as Rovers moved back into the play-off places with this hard-fought win.

Assistant manager Wes Byrne said: “It was definitely a game of two halves, it was a tough battle for us in the first with chances for both sides.

“We set up to go out and win it in the second half and did just that, dominated to secure the points. Credit to Uxbridge they gave us a good game.

“The wonder goal from Kilroy secured it for us, but we were looking great on the ball by that stage.

“We move on to Saturday now with a very tough home game versus Daventry, we will be in great spirits for it.”

The stop-start season has left Barton trailing behind the pack with the number of games played, but with other games postponed on the night due to the continued rainy spell, Rovers made up some ground.

Barton continued with the same starting line-up that saw then earn a draw the previous week against Beaconsfield.

On a heavy Uxbridge pitch, the action started slowly, with neither side finding any momentum on a tricky surface.

As time wore on both sides adapted their styles as the hosts gained the upper hand.

Rovers defended well for the first 20 minutes as Uxbridge pushed forward more and more, but without any real end product.

The first real shot of the game came after good Rovers build-up play as Luke Knight put his effort wide.

Uxbridge’s Mark Smith and Matty Woods were proving handfuls for Rovers, but Barton kept their discipline as the teams went into the break goalless.

In a real game of two halves the Blues dominated the second.

Great early chances fell to Rhys Hoenes and Ricky Case who were both thwarted by home keeper Paul Mccarthy.

One-way traffic saw Kyle Lincoln hit the side netting, while good link play again from Knight and Hoenes drew another fine save from Uxbridge’s stopper.

The deadlock was finally broken on 65 minutes when Knight’s corner was headed on by Jermaine Hall and Kilroy’s header bulged the back of the net.

The half continued in the same vein with Rovers pressing to kill off their hosts, who refused to crumble under the pressure.

However, Barton put the game out of reach on 79 minutes when Bobby Dance’s cleared shot found Kilroy 30 yards out, and he thundered home a low drive to double their lead.

Dance had a further effort in the dying minutes pushed over the bar as Rovers won out.

This Saturday Barton host play-off hopefuls Daventry Town and on Tuesday entertain North Greenford United.

Attendance: 91.

Star Blue: Kevin Kilroy.