Barwell could do nothing to prevent Whitby Town from securing their Premier League status as they went down 2-1 after taking the lead through Sam Hollis.
Having gone down to ten men with a half hour to play after Liam Kay received a second yellow for obstruction, Barwell battled hard but succumbed to a strike from distance by Adam Gell that was worthy of being the winner.
The game was end to end with both teams having chances to score and both keepers had a busy night.
Owen Story had a double shot well saved early on and a strike from Dale Hopson drew a good save from Liam Castle in the Canaries goal.
Scott Lower set up Hollis whose shot was tipped over the bar by Shane Bland for the home side. Soon after Liam Kay was called on to intercept as Mike Roberts was bearing down on goal.
With 25 minutes played a shot from Hopson hit the Barwell bar and the rebound ricocheted off the head of Anthony Hume into Castle’s hands.
On the half hour, Barwell took the lead after Sam Hollis latched onto a cross and slotted the ball neatly past Bland.
Soon after Castle was called into action as he saved from Paul Roddam and had to make a tackle as Roddam tried to put in the rebound.
The second half continued at great pace and a Brady Hickey free kick could have been headed in from six yards but ended wide.
Whitby had the ball in the net after 55 minutes but much to the relief of the visitors, the offside flag was up.
However just four minutes later, the scores were level when Hopson created space in the box and rifled home into the roof of the net.
The game turned on the hour as first an excellent save by Castle from Hume and then an obstruction by Kay who had already been booked saw him given his marching orders.
After 65 minutes a shot was defended off the line by the Canaries but it fell to Gell outside the box. He chested down and drilled the ball goalwards giving Castle no chance as it flew into the roof of the net.
Whitby were on fire and could have gone further ahead soon after when Roberts shot across Castle but saw his effort go just wide.
Despite their attempts to pull back, Barwell could not penetrate the home defence and Whitby ran out winners to secure their League status making their visit in two days’ time from Darlington academic for them.
So Barwell will host Matlock Town in their last league game of the season with pride at stake for both sides and three points at stake to equal last year’s haul of 73 points.
Team: Liam Castle, Scott Lower, Eddy Nisevic, Liam Kay, Joe Ballinger, Richard Lavery, Alex Tomkinson (Zuhayb Abdirahman 86), Brady Hickey, Sam Hollis (Ryan Boothe 84), Owen Story (Victor Lapite 84), Nathan Edgington.
Subs not used: James Ginnelly, Guy Hadland.
Goal: Hollis 30.
Yellow Cards: Kay 51, 63
Attendance: 191
Man of the Match: Sam Hollis
# | Team | Pl | Pts |
7. | Frickley Athletic | 46 | 77 |
8. | Nantwich Town | 46 | 75 |
9. | Barwell | 46 | 73 |
10. | Rushall Olympic | 46 | 69 |
11. | Buxton | 46 | 67 |
12. | Sutton Coldfield Town | 46 | 62 |
13. | Halesowen Town | 46 | 62 |