RUNAWAY LEADERS MARCH ON

Barton faced the daunting trip to unbeaten Leamington, who have won all their games bar one (when they drew at Bedworth last week) and gave their table topping hosts a run for their money before the game turned in the home sides favour on the hour.
In front of a bumper crowd Leamington forced an early chance which the Rovers scrambled clear, and not to be outdone, went up the other end where Josh Sozzo shot wide. Martyn Patching produced a fine save before Marcus Jackson came close for the home side, hitting the post in the 21st minute. Barton then stunned the league leaders a minute later when Ryan Robb’s cross was headed down by Ashley Harewood into the path of Alex O’Brien, who hit a scorching shot from 20 yards that gave Richard Morris in the home goal no chance. Morris saved a Harewood header from a Robb freekick on 36 minutes, and two minutes later the Rovers lead was extinguished. Jai Stanley driving a low shot inside the near post.
Twice early in the second half the Rovers had chances, and on both occasions their hosts went upfield to score themselves. Robb’s cross shot was only inches away from the far post after 50 minutes and a minute later Mark Bellingham was put through to clip the ball over the advancing Patching to put the home side in front. Four minutes later a flowing Rovers move put Harewood clear in the box but he managed not ony to steer the ball past the keeper, but also past the far post and the equalising chance had gone, Two minutes later so had the match, as an underhit backpass let in Bellingham and he rounded the exposed Patching to score his second and Leamington’s third. Leamington wrapped up the scoring eight minutes from time when Bellingham completed his hat-trick, sidefooting home inside the near post.