GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY 3 BARWELL 1

Barwell travelled to Northern Premier Division side Gainsborough Trinity in the Isuzu FA Trophy. It was the hosts who started the brightest, having much of the ball early on and putting Barwell under pressure, heading narrowly wide on 6 minutes their best early chance. However, it only took them 15 minutes to get the breakthrough, with experienced striker Clayton Donaldson firing home to punish the visitors for their slow start. Almost immediately afterwards, Barwell woke up and had their first real attack which resulted in a corner. Said corner was floated into the far post where defender Kyle Rowley headed back across goal to prolific striker Jack Deakin who headed into the back of the net. The game then heated up a bit, with Gainsborough almost going back in front but they were denied by Andy Wycherley at his near post. From the resulting corner, the hosts again fired a shot, this time onto the post which then bounced into Wycherley’s hands. Barwell then found their feet and seemed the most likely to score for a while, Max Brogan attempting to catch the home keeper off his line and a Beck-Ray Enoru run through the heart of the Gainsborough side could only result in an effort blazed over the bar. Barwell kept coming forward though, with captain Brady Hickey heading just wide from a free kick. However, in the 41st minute, The Canaries' hard work would be undone as goalkeeper Andy Wycherley was sent off for handling the ball outside his area. Barwell subbed off Tiago Nassunculo to make way for 18 year old goalkeeper Elliot Lawson, who has recently been promoted from Barwell Under 21s. Nevertheless, Lawson wasn’t able to keep the following free kick out from Curtis Durose and Gainsborough restored their lead.

It was a quiet start to the second half but it seemed like ten man Barwell were the better side, defending well against an attacking Gainsborough side but also countering themselves. It took until the 61st minute for the first real chance of the half to come for Barwell, who once again counter attacked but the cross from Enoru couldn’t find a red shirt. The hosts did have a few chances but The Canaries defence and young keeper were doing an excellent job of keeping them at bay. Barwell came close to scoring again as Brogan headed wide from a good cross by Micah Edwards who would eventually be replaced by George Ward in the 79th minute. Barwell kept piling on the pressure, looking for that equaliser, with Deakin coming so close to converting an Enoru low cross with five to go. However, the hosts did eventually secure the win, with tiring Barwell legs they were able to counter and square the ball across to an Liam Waldock who finished into an empty net.