Barton Rovers made comfortable progress to the second round of the Southern League Cup after a comprehensive victory over Dunstable Town on Tuesday night.
Visiting manager Tony Fontenelle made a number of changes, including the return of keeper Jamie Head, who made three magnificent point blank saves, while Rovers included a number of ex-Blues, including Danny Hutchins, Connor Calcutt and Jason Blackett.
The hosts began better as Hutchins shot wide, with Dunstable’s chances falling to Kelvin Bossman, who saw keeper Aaron Fulton quickly off his line. Rovers’ Bamford fired over the top, while Blackett’s effort drew a decent save from Head, before the Town custodian made a fine double stop to keep the score goalless.
Barton then went ahead on 25 minutes, with Bamford finishing emphatically, while Blackett made it 2-0 on the half hour from an incisive move. David Longe-King found Kelvin Bossman who shot into the side-netting, as Barton came close when Bamford’s downward header was narrowly over.
After the break, Rovers had a goal disallowed for offside, as Jack Keating threatened a third, before Sean Coughlan put a great chance wide after an error from Head. Coughlan had a header saved by Head at the expense of a corner, with the keeper then making a superb reaction stop from Jimmy Hartley, as Dunstable’s only real opportunity came when Ashton Grant’s was saved by Aaron Fulton.
Connor Calcutt’s header drew another fine stop from Head, Alex O’Brien shot over, before Coughlan’s long range attempt flew into the net, while in stoppage time Hartley completed the scoring after Head had spilled his first effort.
Rovers line up
Fulton
Hutchins
Smith
Locke
Andrews
Close
Keating
O'Brien
Blackett
Bamford
Hartley
Barton Rovers 4 Dunstable Town
Bamford 26
Blackett 33
Coughlan 88
Hartley 90+1
Attendance
76