Welwyn Garden City beat Barton Rovers 3-2 in Southern League

Played on a Thursday night due to the Citizens' lengthy fixture backlog, they won 3-2 to move up to seventh, seven points behind the play-off gaggle and with seven games to go, three less than all of the top five bar Biggleswade Town.

It also got them back to winning ways after defeat on Easter Monday by the same score at Hadley.

Goals are rarely in short supply with Marc Weatherstone’s team and if can keep the defence tight, an invitation to the end of season party may come their way.

The boss made changes following that bank holiday loss at Brickfield Lane.

Keeper Charlie Crowley was rested with a hamstring injury, Donnabhan Green coming in, while James Mulley and Ryan Kirwan replaced Harvey Steel and Josh Bryant at full-back, both of whom were on the bench.

The centre-back pairing was the untested together duo of Yasin Boodhoo and Alex Harris, the news confirmed that both James Kaloczi and Josh Steele are out for the season.

Charlie McDonald returned to his midfield role, after having to play centre-back at Hadley, while Bailey Stevenson was preferred to Cyrus Babaie upfront.

Welwyn beat Barton in the Southern League. Picture: LINDA BABAIE (Image: Linda Babaie)

The revamped WGC got off to a bad start, falling behind to a goal down in seven minutes from the penalty spot.

After a Mulley clearance had been charged down, keeper Green made a headlong rush from goal to try and retrieve the error, only to knock Barton’s Lewis Thomas flying.

Taylor Rhiney stepped up and made no mistake with his spot-kick.

Barton held the lead for just 10 minutes, before Green’s long goal kick somewhat redeemed his error.

Thomas missed his clearance and the predatory Lynton Goss collected, running clear and finishing well past Barton keeper Sam Archer.

Chances were at a premium, but Dernell Wynter, later to be WGC's hero, did well down the left, and his cross was met by a powerful, downward header by Stevenson that unfortunately just lacked the proper direction.

A mini goal spree was kept until the final five minutes before the interval.

On 41 minutes, WGC went 2-1 up, McDonald producing the pass of a very wet night with a defence-splitting ball that put Wynter away.

He cleverly slipped inside two challenges before shooting under keeper Archer for a 2-1 lead.

That advantage lasted just four minutes.

Seconds before the half-time whistle, Barton levelled when McDonald and Kirwan got in a tangle over a clearance, Anthony Manoccio's shot then taking a big deflection to rebound past keeper Green.

There were even fewer chances after the break, as the rain teemed down, but just past the hour mark, Green made a terrific save, pushing Barton substitute John Shamalo’s effort behind in flying style, to keep WGC on terms.

As the game moved towards its closing stages, skipper Brad Wadkins got up well on the back post to a right-wing corner, but just headed wide.

That proved the prelude to the match-winner nine minutes from time.

McDonald miscued in midfield, but reacted quickly to get a header on for Wadkins’ deft back-heel to put Wynter away and again he didn’t fail, running on to shoot past Archer for the Citizens to re-take the lead and to ultimately hang on for the victory.

Barton’s hopes of a further recovery were badly dented with a red card for defender Thomas.

He brought Goss down heavily in full flight, to earn a second yellow and dismissal, six minutes from the end.

WGC: Green, Mulley, Boodhoo, Harris, Kirwan, McDonald, Soulya-Osekanongo, Wadkins, Stevenson (Babaie 72), Goss, Wynter.

Subs (not used): Steel, Bryant, Jones, Yeboah.

Welwyn have three more home games to come next, starting with Kings Langley at the Pexhurst Stadium, Herns Lane.

That is today (Saturday) with a 3pm kick-off.

They then face the return with Hadley on Tuesday, April 9, before Biggleswade Town visit on Thursday, April 11, both starting at 7.45pm.