Goole AFC 1 Barwell 4

Canaries Cross the Line to League Championship in Superb Display at Goole.

Barwell took the Evo-stik Division One South title with a majestic and emphatic victory over Goole AFC in a superb display of football that showed why Barwell have amassed 91 points so far this year.

The atmosphere amongst the players was very positive and the players were keen to end their away road trips with a win to seal the title.

The match was on the whole one-sided with Goole unable to answer the onslaught from Jamie Towers and Kev Charley up front with the latter bagging an excellent hat trick. This was backed up by sound defending and great service from midfield in a performance with all players contributing.

The game started as it was to continue with a burst of pace down the right from Jamie Towers and a cross into the box that on this occasion was defended away.

With less than a minute played, Barwell again threatened as Kev Charley threatened and squared to Scott Rickards. His shot from the edge of the box was only a yard past the post.

After just 4 minutes, Towers had an excellent shot from the edge of the six yard area denied him by the legs of Goole keeper Leigh Walker. From the resulting corner Rickards found Francino Francis at the back post whose header narrowly went over the bar.

The pressure continued as Towers slipped his marker and ran for goal only to find Luke Jeffs who denied him and conceded a fifth corner in so many minutes.

Towers had his best chance to score after 7 minutes as he found himself on the end of a long ball from Francis but the ball bobbled at the last minute and his shot was ineffective.

Barwell took the lead on the quarter hour through Jamie Towers. Guy Sanders floated a pinpoint free kick onto the tall winger’s head on the right side of the area and he headed across the goal and over Walker into the back of the net.

Goole responded soon after with a long ball into the box that bounced up and struck Guy Sanders on the arm. The referee had a good view of the incident and no penalty was awarded despite the protestations of the home crowd and players.

Barwell continued to pepper the Goole goal through Towers who was able to slip past Jeffs and fire goalwards only to see his effort end the wrong side of the post after 20 minutes.

With 25 minutes played, James Dudgeon, the Goole player/coach fell awkwardly and left the field with a dislocated elbow which required the visit of an ambulance.

A minute later, Vill Powell received the ball on the six yard line from Derry Robson and played a crisp volley goalwards. However, Richard Morris was able to make an excellent save and turned the ball around his post for the corner.

On the half hour, Barwell doubled their lead as Towers found Rickards on the right of the box. He squared the ball across the six yard line where Kev Charley was waiting to tap in from close range.

After 34 minutes, the home side ventured forward through Gavin Allot but his shot was not timed and Richard Morris was able to make an easy catch.

After 38 minutes, Charley slipped the ball to Scott Hadland who ran powerfully towards the goal. He was fouled on the very edge of the box awarding a free kick to Barwell. For his foul on the Barwell captain, Greg Wright found his name in the referee’s book.

As the game went into stoppage time at the end of the first half, Allott burst forward, beating the Canaries’ offside trap and linked with Robson. However, Hadland was on hand to put in a crucial tackle that dispelled the danger for Barwell.

Robson and Allott then combined to threaten once again but the shot from Robson went the wrong side of the post.

The second half started in positive fashion for Goole with Matty Bloor falling foul of a Francino Francis tackle. However, Francis escaped the referee’s card and just conceded the free kick. Shortly after, Bloor, after failing to recover from the tackle, was substituted.

After 48 minutes Lewis Dodd picked up a yellow card for a foul.

On the hour, Goole pulled a goal back to put the cat amongst the pigeons for a short time. Following a rare error by Francis, Vill Powell was presented with a golden chance to bury the ball from six yards. He placed it neatly past Morris to give the Vikings some hope of a recovery.

Powell then prevented Scott Rickards from taking a free kick by failing to retire ten yards and received a yellow card for his trouble. However, Goole’s joy only lasted for two minutes before Kev Charley in his turn capitalised on a defensive error and doubled his personal tally by shooting across Walker to score the Canaries’ third goal of the day.

After 65 minutes, Jamie Towers again supplied an excellent ball onto the head of Charley. His effort did not miss by much as it went past the upright by less than a yard.

Two minutes later, Lewis Dodd had a chance to shoot. He was unlucky as his shot took a deflection and missed by a couple of feet.

After 71 minutes, Towers was caught pulling the shirt of Derry Robson. The referee did not hesitate and booked the Barwell player.

After 77 minutes, substitute Jai Stanley found Charley in the box. He shot powerfully but Walker was able to sit on the ball and smother the shot.

With just four minutes of normal time remaining, Nigel Julien played a decent ball into the path of Scott Hadland who was upended in the box by John Gill. The penalty was awarded and Kev Charley strode up to achieve his hat trick as he placed the ball neatly into the bottom right hand corner to make the final score 4-1 to Barwell.

After 88 minutes, the frustration was starting to show and Rob Ludlam was booked for shirt pulling on Nigel Julien.

In the last minute, Jai Stanley played an excellent cross over for Scott Hadland. His header rattled the bar from eight yards.

Thus Barwell strode to the League title in their first season in the Evo-stik League with an excellent all-round team performance. It was fitting therefore that the Whole Team won the accolade of Man of the Match.

Team: Richard Morris, Scott Lower, Chris Hollist, Guy Sanders, Francino Francis, Lewis Dodd (Jai Stanley 75), Jamie Towers (Nigel Julien 73), Scott Hadland, Scott Rickards (Luke Barlone 71), Kev Charley, Craig Dutton.
Subs not used: Richard Letts, Adam Wykes.

Goals: Towers 15, Charley 30, 63, 86 (pen).

Attendance: 114

Man of the Match: The Whole Team.