Barwell 3 Rushall Olympic 1

Report by Merv Nash

With every player playing their part Barwell overcame Rushall in a physical battle, their second home win in three days moving them up to the heady heights of 5th place in the NPL.

Rushall could not make any impression on the Barwell defence until the closing stages, "Canaries" central defenders Guy Hadland and Mark Albrighton were magnificent, backed up by a sterling display by Rich Lavery.

Much travelled football league player Dele Adebola shot wide as Rushall started the better.

Barwell got into the game and Danny Newton had a goal bound effort blocked on the goal line after a splendid run by Jamie Towers.

With seventeen minutes gone Barwell caught out their visitors with a quick break, Luke Barlone played a splendid ball behind their defence and Towers ran on, rounded keeper Lewis Sully and found the net, his drive from an angle going in off the far post.

Barwell could have doubled their lead on the half-hour mark, danger man Newton breaking clear but with only the goal-keeper to beat shooting wide.

Rushall seemed to rely heavily on long balls which were easily dealt with by the Barwell defence.

The "Canaries" got a boost with a second goal in the 52nd minute, debutant goal-keeper Sam Hornby launched a long free kick into the Rushall penalty area and their central defender Mitchell Tolly inadvertently headed the ball past his keeper into his own net.

Hornby in the Barwell goal came to his sides rescue, saving a close range effort from Rushall's Zac Martin, with 20 minutes to go Barwell seemed to have the points in the bag with the 3rd goal. A searching run by Kieron Brehon opened up the visitors defence and Newton drove a low shot under keeper Sully to take his goal's tally into double figures.

Rushall to their credit kept going and in the last ten minutes looked the most dangerous. Substitute Dave Walker running on to a through pass slotted the ball past Hornby to reduce the arrears.

The visitors came close again and it took a magnificent tackle near the penalty spot by Albrighton to deny Walker a second goal.

To sour the night in injury time, with the Man of the Match announcement echoing around the stadium, Barwell's Newton was given a straight red card which looked very harsh to most people in the ground.

Barwell look forward to welcoming you to Kirkby Road on Saturday 28th September when they will be playing a re-arranged league game against Blyth Spartans, kick off 3pm.

Team: Sam Hornby, Scott Lower, Jack Edwards, Guy Hadland, Mark Albrighton, Richard Lavery, Kieron Brehon, Scott Hadland, Luke Barlone (Olly Brown-Hill 81), Jamie Towers (Shane Byrne 45), Danny Newton.

Subs not used: Danny Gaunt, Eliot Putman, Liam Castle

Goals: Towers 17, Own Goal (Tolley) 52, Newton 73.

Yellow Cards: Edwards 11, Barlone 82

Red Card: Newton 90 + 3.

Attendance: 147

MIRA Man of the Match: Danny Newton