Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton was full of praise for Hungerford Town loanee Jed Ward after the Gas chief through the youngster in at the deep end against Port Vale.
Ward made his second start for the EFL League One side in the 2-0 defeat at Vale Park but that didn’t affect Barton’s opinion of the young stopper.
Speaking to Bristol Live, the Rovers boss said: “He kicked really well and his decision-making was really good, even when he came out in the second half at 2-0 with that counter-attack. He kept his discipline and composure really well, it would have been easy for a young keeper to be a bit rash there.
“But he showed the belief and talent we think he has got by performing at the level he did. I’m really pleased with him.”
Ward has starred in goal for Hungerford this season despite the sides ultimate relegation to Step 3 – which was confirmed over the weekend.
Bristol Live’s Rovers reporter Sam Frost wrote: “It is clear that a spell on loan with Hungerford Town in the National League South this season has done the Bradley Stoke lad the world of good and Barton was pleased with what he saw.”
Regular Gas number one James Belshaw is expected to return for the fixtures against Plymouth Argyle and Peterborough United. It is unclear if that means Ward will be available for Hungerford’s final games in the Vanarama National League South this season.
