Corby Town 3 Barwell 0

Report by Merv Nash

Barwell giving their worst performance of the season so far helped Corby's new joint management team of Tommy Wright and Andrew Wilson get off to a dream start in this first qualifying round of the F.A. Cup. The "Canaries" defence played with no direction and the whole side had no zip and the confidence just drained out of them. They looked heavy and leggy and Corby fully deserved to win, Barwell's best player was goal-keeper Liam Castle which sums it all up.

In the first couple of minutes Barwell could have scored, a Kieron Brehon corner flashed across the Corby goal mouth but no-one was there to apply the vital touch.

Corby took the lead in the 24th minute following a foul by Rich Lavery which was harsh in anyone's book. Tom Berwick's free kick into a crowded penalty area found Paul Malone's head and his glancing effort gave Castle no chance.

Barwell hit back and could have equalised when Luke Barlone rounded home-keeper Paul Walker and seemed to be brought down in the area but no penalty was given and the keeper was lucky to stay on the pitch.

Minutes from the break Corby scored a second when a fine ball from Sam Ives sliced open the Barwell defence and Berwick ran on, cut in and fired low past Castle.

Corby increased their lead on 50 minutes following a fine solo run by Josh Morman who chipped the ball over Castle hitting the cross bar, but following up he bundled the ball home.

Barwell had it all to do now and the nearest they came to reducing the arrears was when Danny Newton struck a low shot from distance that was brilliantly turned round the post by Corby keeper Walker.

Corby had few problems in easing their way to this three goal win in impressive fashion.

Team: Liam Castle, Scott Lower (Olly Brown-Hill 65), Mark Albrighton, Guy Hadland, Jamie Hood (Callum Earls 43), Richard Lavery, Kieron Brehon, Scott Hadland, Luke Barlone (Matt Brown 70), Jack Edwards, Danny Newton.

Subs not used: Eliot Putman, Leighton Simmonds

Yellow Cards: Newton 45, Guy Hadland 64

Attendance: 269

MIRA Man of the Match: Liam Castle