Kevin Hawes, scorer of five goals in his two previous outings, marked his home debut with a man-of-the-match performance, scoring once and setting up a brace for Craig Bussens.

Luke Hammond was also on target with a 30-yard screamer for AFC's opener to level the scores shortly after the visitors had taken a shock lead in the second minute.

As well as Hawes there was also a home debut for teenage midfielder Jamie Wright, who had recovered from injury sustained just 12 minutes into his first game for the club.

He replaced Sam Clarke who was serving the first of a three match ban. Club captain Gareth Heath was named among the substitutes along with Sheridan Driver, both having missed the last three games.

This was the third consecutive match that AFC had scored four times and it was fine entertainment for the 270 crowd with both sides intent on an attacking game. Barton Rovers did not look like a team who had won just once in their previous six league outings. Going forward they looked very sharp.

They could not have wished for a better start. Kicking off into a strong sun they attacked from the start and almost caught the home defence napping with their first attack. But twice in quick succession Curtis Haynes-Brown made important blocks to keep out efforts from Josh Sozzo.

It was a real let-off for the home side, but it was very short-lived as Sozzo made it third time lucky when he pounced to beat keeper Paul Catley with his next effort to silence the home crowd.

AFC replied in the best possible fashion, levelling the scores two minutes later with a stunning goal from Hammond.

Wright and Haynes-Brown combined down the left flank, with the latter laying the ball back to Hammond who unleashed an unstoppable shot from distance that keeper Patrick Martyn could only watch as it flew into the top corner.

Hawes went close with a header before Catley was quick off his line to quell a Barton attack. A dipping shot from Nat Liburd just cleared Catley's crossbar before the home side enjoyed a spell of pressure that saw a shot on the turn from James Rowe just miss the target and Bussens force Martyn into a fine save.

A powerful crossfield run by Wright ended with a rising shot over the visitors' bar before Barton took the lead for the second time after 31 minutes.

It came from a run down the left, where Parys Okai was a constant threat, and a cross from the bye-line found Alex O'Brien who hammered his side into a 2-1 lead.

But, just like the first time they fell behind, AFC's reply was almost instant, Hawes levelling the scores three minutes later with a fine finish, flicking home Bussen's right-wing cross.

AFC made a change at half-time with Driver replacing Marcus Hunt in central defence.