BARNTON paid the price for a poor first-half performance, although the outcome may have been different had it not been for Parkgate goalkeeper Aiden Tyas.

He made sure the Steelmen’s head-start remained intact.

They needed only nine minutes to take the lead, Carl Woodhead bundling in after the Villagers failed to clear.

Jack Woolley restored parity quickly though, meeting Chris Smith’s post with an emphatic header at the back post.

Jason McShane prompted Tyas to tip over, while at the other end Craig Fletcher fluffed a header for the home team before Barnton custodian Connor Yarwood helped a Danny Harris attempt onto the woodwork.

Parkgate led for a second time when Kieran Hurst applied the finishing touch to a fine team move, although Woolley repeated his earlier trick when he forced Tyas to save.

A third goal arrived for Parkgate in added time when Chris Howard’s speculative attempt sneaked in.

The home team all but secured a safe passage to the preliminary round shortly after the interval when Charlie Stewart steered in.

However Barnton refused to buckle.

Sam Houghton fizzed an effort wide, although they breathed a sigh of relief when Adam McKillop cleared off the line at the other end.

Substitute George Webster went close before Woolley doubled his personal tally with a powerful shot.

Tyas thwarted Webster then Chris Bandell, on as a replacement for James McShane, saw a goal-bound attempt smuggled clear.

The Parkgate number one saved his best until last, diverting another Bandell strike to safety.

Barnton | Yarwood (GK), Ford (Webster 46), McKay (Hamid 86), McKillop, James McShane (Bandell 64), Stafford, Houghton, Jason McShane, Irlam, Woolley, Smith Subs not used Kiernan (GK), Warren 

Attendance 83