Petersfield Town 0 Barton Rovers 3: PETERSFIELD put in a dismal display on Saturday as they slumped to a 3-0 defeat on home soil.

Barton eased their way to victory in a game in which it took 71 minutes before the Rams could even muster a shot on target.

It would be hard for manager John Robson to find any plus points to hang on to from a game which brought the completion of the first half of the league season for Petersfield – and his side have only eight points on the board so far from 21 matches.

In the early exchanges both teams’ differing styles of play failed to open up any chances on goal at either end – the Rams couldn’t quite get in the right places to get their ball in behind the Barton defence to work, while the visitors got the ball in and around the Petersfield box but they couldn’t find a way through.

However, as the first half reached its mid-point the home defence started to struggle to get the ball away from the edge of their box and eventually this was to cost them.

On 20 minutes, Petersfield tried to clear the ball two or three times but eventually it fell to Lee Close who hit a dipping half volley towards goal which keeper Jamie Bray dropped down on to push around the post.

Barton took the lead on 28 minutes when the ball was worked forward up the left and when it was crossed into the box, the Rams could get the ball no further forward than the edge of their own box and eventually it fell to Michael Malcolm, who had the time to pick his spot and fire the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

Dan Hutchins went close to adding a second when he latched on to a deep cross from the right to the far post and only Bray’s outstretched leg kept his shot out of the net.

It was 2-0 on 36 minutes when a corner from the left caught the home defence napping and Malcolm was left unmarked to head the ball into the roof of the net at the near post.

For the next half an hour there were no chances of note as Petersfield struggled to try and get some kind of foothold in the game, while Barton looked very comfortable as they soaked up what little pressure they were put under.

On 71 minutes Alfy Whittingham cut in from the left, beat two men and then curled a shot towards goal which keeper Tom Coulton gathered at the second attempt.

Barton, however, wrapped up all three points from another corner on 79 minutes. This time Tom Smith was left unmarked around ten yards out and although Bray got a hand to his header he could only help it on its way into the net.

Three minutes later Whittingham and Matt Andrews combined on the edge of the Barton box to create a rare chance for the home side but Whittingham hit his shot straight at Coulton.

Petersfield’s day was summed up with three minutes remaining when a cross from the left found Nick Awford just a few yards out but his shot was blocked by Coulton and the follow-up effort was saved again, even though the keeper was still on the ground.

Petersfield: Bray, Giles, Graham, Green, Medway, Searle, Cripps (Larbi), Awford, Andrews, Wedlake, Whittingham. Subs not used: Miroy, Tucker, Essai, Bertea.