Hinckley AFC 1-3 Barwell

Hinckley AFC were defeated 3-1 by Barwell in the first meeting of the two sides at St John’s Park yesterday evening.

Luke Richards’ fine free kick just after the half hour was the standout moment for Hinckley; he curled in from the edge of the box to level affairs after Dominic Brennan’s tap in gave Barwell the lead.

But parity didn’t last, and Elliott Chamberlain’s strike gave Barwell the advantage at half time, before Reis Worley secured victory for the Canaries in the second half.

In truth, Barwell were in the ascendancy for the majority of the game and showed why they are three levels above their hosts.

They could have taken the lead in the first ten minutes, but Elliott Chamberlain scuffed his shot after a neat move down the right flank.

Jack Hartopp was Hinckley’s standout player in the first half, and he was called into action after fourteen minutes to deny Brady Hickey.

But Hartopp could do nothing about Barwell’s opener two minutes later, as Brennan gave them a deserved lead by tapping home from close range.

Then, Kevin Thornton headed wide, before Hinckley came back into the game. With their first real spell of pressure, Deqwon Ebanks turned Declan Towers and was brought down by the ex-Hinckley United defender. Up stepped Richards to find the top corner from twenty yards, giving Liam Castle no chance.

Hinckley couldn’t make the most of their leveller and Barwell retook the lead four minutes later when Chamberlain struck through a crowd of players and found the bottom corner.

The second half continued in a similar vein, but Hinckley had a chance two minutes into it as Richards’ shot flew narrowly over the bar.

Former Coventry City midfielder Thornton controlled the game from the midfield, and should have had a goal of his own when he caught Jamie Newton in possession, but Sam Arnold came to Hinckley’s rescue and saved.

He couldn’t score the goal on that occasion, but Thornton did set one up with fifteen minutes to go. He found Worley in space, who escaped his marker and slotted home to secure Barwell’s victory.