BARTON’S up-and-down season continued with a seven-wicket defeat at Budleigh Salterton.

Opener Andy Hele top scored for Barton with 32 in a 50-over total of 173 all out.

Budleigh knocked-off the runs with more than 12 overs to spare, Elliot Rice making 44.

Barton’s record is won two and lost two, which has left them halfway up the A Division table.

That sort of form should keep Barton away from the danger end of the table, but won’t be enough to mount any sort of promotion push.

Hele and Scott Baldry (26) got Barton away to a 65-run start, only to fall one after the other, Rob Craze (3-29) and Sam Fereday (2-45) largely responsible.

Shaun Needham (27) played a subdued role at one end while wickets fell a bit too regularly at the other end.

Having slumped to 108 for six, Jaryd Seiffert (22) and Greg Shelton (25) moved the score along with a stand of 46 for the seventh wicket.

Seiffert’s demise initiated a terminal decline to 173 all out, James Leat taking three for 23.

Budleigh set off in hot pursuit with Rice and Matt Junk (25) leading the charge.

Junk went on 60, Ed Doble was in and out for 12 and Rice was third out on 97.

Craze was on seven not out when Tom Oxland joined him and the pair went the rest of the way.

Craze finished 36 not out and Oxland was unbeaten on 33.

Barton captain Adam Parker tried eight bowlers in the hope of forcing a breakthrough.

Stuart Bowker had two for 37 while Tom Drake bowled seven overs for 20 runs.