Barton Rovers 2 Petersfield Town 2: PETERSFIELD and Barton had to settle for a 2-2 draw for the second time this season when they met again on Tuesday night.

It proved to be an entertaining game throughout and if both sides had put away the chances they had it could easily have ended up 6-6 as a final score.

The Rams took the lead on nine minutes when Andy Todd got a high ball under control. He managed to partially block a defender’s attempted clearance and the ball rolled to Joe Briggs on the edge of the penalty area and he took it into the box before firing a low shot past keeper Kyle Forster.

The home side went close to scoring two minutes later following good passing in their build-up play. Ashton Grant fired off a low shot from just inside the penalty area and keeper Anthony Ender got down low to make a save to his right.

On 14 minutes Tyler Ingham delivered a good curling cross on to the head of Grant but his header from six yards out was well saved low down by Ender. At the other end Lewis Hyde was left unmarked from a corner and although he stooped low to get to the ball he managed to put his chance over the crossbar.

Barton got an equaliser on 26 minutes when a quick throw in on the left set George Ironton up but his shot was beaten away by Ender. James Bishop picked up the rebound on the right and hit a ferocious cross into the near post which Ender deflected into his own net as he tried to deal with it.

Petersfield went close again on 37 minutes when Briggs played the ball up to Jordan Neal on the left. He pulled the ball back to Briggs, who missed the ball but it rolled on to Todd and he placed his low shot straight at Forster.

Four minutes later a quick move forward found Howard Neighbour and he crossed the ball towards Todd. He headed the ball back across goal towards Neal, who looped his header upwards and it hit the crossbar before being knocked behind for a corner.

From the second corner in this sequence Neighbour had a free header at the near post which just flew wide of the target.

From the next attack Neal cut in from the left but saw his shot drop just wide and after a quick free kick on the right, Briggs tried to place his shot into the net but it hit a defender which took the pace off of it and Forster made an easy save.

The chances continued to come during the second half but we had to wait until the hour mark for the next serious one.

Todd chased down a through ball but hit his first time shot wide and then at the other end Matt Nolan tried to flick a free kick towards goal but his header dropped on top of the net.

Neighbour then curled a free kick from the edge of the box around the wall but Forster made an easy save to his left. Todd then knocked on a free kick from the half way line but Neighbour couldn’t quite get on the end of the ball.

Petersfield took the lead again on 68 minutes when Neal made a break down the left hand side. He then played the ball inside to Joe Richardson, who took time to steady himself before firing an unstoppable shot past Forster.

The home side drew level again with the next attack just six minutes later. Alex O’Brien was allowed too much time and space to play in and he placed his shot past Ender and into the net.

Five minutes later Richardson picked up the ball following a quick throw in on the right and pulled it back into the path of Neighbour but his goalbound shot from five yards out was blocked behind for a corner.

From the corner Hyde had another free header but Forster managed to keep it out and after the ball was played forward by the home side, O’Brien rolled his pass into the path of Nolan, who fired off a shot but he got no power behind it and Ender gathered it easily.

With six minutes remaining Nolan turned provider when he found some space on the right and pulled a low cross across the face of goal, which Grant tried to slide in but the ball rolled gently into Ender’s arms.

Petersfield: Ender, O Searle, Wain, Giles, Hyde, Ford, Richardson, Neal, Neighbour, Briggs, Todd. Subs not used: Buckland, Geddes, Saunders, Silver, Eaton.