Barton arrived in this fixture in relatively poor form in the league, however they were the only side to take all six points from Kempston last season in the league – a feat not even the two promoted sides could manage. But, you will be well aware of what happens to form books in derby games - only today, all of the windows were kept firmly closed to keep what little heat there was in.

Barton began the game as the better of the two sides and had early chances from Phillips and Parson before hitting the post in the twentieth minute. Kyal McNulty received his fifth booking of the season for halting an attack. Sam Johnson had the first notable chance for Kempston, pulling a shot wide when put through on the break. On the half hour though, Kempston did make the breakthrough. Jake Newman found Johnson in the area, where the winger turned and rode a challenge before slipping the ball home from a very acute angle. The lead lasted only five minutes though, as a free kick for Barton was turned home by former Kempston forward Andrew Phillips. Two minutes before the break, Kempston restored their lead, Luke Heneghan threaded the ball through to Newman and the forward neatly rounded the keeper to score. Both Newman and Heneghan had chances to extend the lead before the break. The half time whistle brought to a close a very stop-start half of football, with the referee not allowing the game to flow – this caused some frustration among players and on the benches. Indeed, the referee had to have words with Gary Flinn in the home dugout before the break and a prolonged chat with Barton captain Andrews as the two sides left the field.

Early in the second half, Andrews got involved with Sam Johnson, wrestling him to the floor after the ball had gone. Both players were cautioned. Martin Conway was called into action to tip away a Phillips freekick shortly afterward. On the hour mark, Kempston extended their lead as Newman latched on to a long pass and showed great composure to finish low past the on rushing keeper from the edge of the box. Five minutes after finding themselves two goals down, Barton found themselves a man down as well. Andrews, already on a yellow card, committed a needless foul and earned himself an early bath. Jake Newman saw a chance of a hat-trick denied by a low diving save from Finlay after a deflected shot. Kempston hearts were in mouths with fifteen minutes to play as Conway was caught out of his area by Jarvis on the right hand side. The Barton player crossed in and Michael Lyon was lucky his unorthodox clearance went just wide of his own goal. The hosts wrapped up the game in the eighty first minute, Ben Shepherd’s long ball found sub Josh Crawley on the left with time enough to size up the shot and find the bottom corner across the keeper. Barton did have the ball in the net again, but Phillips spectacular finish with five minutes to go will not go down in history thanks to the linesman’s flag. Kempston hit the crossbar with a free kick in stoppage time as they began to toy with their opponents, looking for a fifth goal, but none was forthcoming.

The win lifts Kempston up to seventh, level on points with the last play off place but having played a game more than Hartley-Wintney. The Walnut Boys are back in league action on Friday night away at high-flying AFC Dunstable at Creasy Park, the next home game is on the 19th, when Thame United are the visitors.