Barton back in promotion contention

BARTON are back in the A Division promotion race after beating Brixham by 54 runs in a typically robust derby clash.

Scott Bellamy (39) and Mark Gilmour (36) were the leading run scorers in Barton’s tally of 171 all out.

Spinner Stuart Bowker then took five for 19 as Brixham nosedived from 54 for two to 66 for seven and on to 119 all out.

Barton appear to have it all to do in the promotion race as they are fifth in the table with 32 points to make up on second-placed Bradninch and 39 on leaders Plympton.

To threaten the top two Barton have to get past Budleigh Salterton and Paignton first.

However, four of Barton’s last five games are against all the teams above them, starting with Budleigh this Saturday.

If they keep winning, Barton can do it.

Skipper Adam Parker doesn’t like brandishing talk of promotion lightly, but hasn’t ruled Barton out for a late run

 “Our position looks a bit better than it was and we are looking forward to getting back out there and competing for the win this weekend,” said Parker.

“The league is still very tight so anything could happen…”

Bellamy and Shaun Needham (23) pointed Barton in the right direction against some tidy bowling from Craig Eaves (2-26), Jordan Gregory (1-27), former Barton captain Gary Spencer (0-22) and Paul Heath (3-29).

Ex-Brixham player Mark Gilmour took 36 not out from 33 balls off his old team-mates to accelerate things at the end.

Mark Orchard came back at the end to pick up two tail-enders and Stephen Lewis.

Brixham skipper Andy Pugh, another Barton old boy back on his former stamping ground, thought his side were well placed at 54 for two with more than 30 overs to go.

Pugh and Orchard were given out lbw two balls apart and a promising situation deteriorated to 66 for seven as Bowler spun his spell.

Rory McDonald made 18 and there was resistance from ex-Barton player Heath (11) and Lee Upham (10), but the damage was done.

For Barton it was a good win after two poor performances.

Pugh was left wondering what might have been had he and Orchard survived.

“Three lbw decisions (Gregory was first out) killed the game for us,” said Pugh.


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