Barwell: Kirkby Road Sports Ground

Barwell 1-2 Lowestoft Town

My (Adrian) quest continues for live football in non-league as access to the professional game continues to be denied due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Recently I saw Hinckley AFC play a league game at Kirkby Road, and here I am again this time to watch the landlords who are two divisions higher up the pyramid and three below football league.

Without knowing too much about the lower echelons of non-league football it is reasonable to below that Barwell are punching above their weight at this level. Barwell is a village just to the north east of Hinckley in Leicestershire and when you consider the league consists of Nuneaton, Tamworth, Stourbridge, Bromsgrove etc, one would have thought staying in the league would be an achievement in itself.

It was interesting comparing the quality of the game I saw at the same venue 10 days ago involving Hinckley AFC. If anything, I felt the standard was higher then than it was today!

This was very much blood and thunder, Lowestoft started with more possession but Barwell had the chances and took the lead with the first of three penalties .Little dispute here as the Barwell forward Tristan Dunkley was having his shirt pulled and fouled, Brady Hickey firing home.

Lowestoft equalised in the last minutes of the first half but their spot kick was dubious to say the least. It looked as if Keiran Higgs had just slipped and lost his balance but a penalty was given and scored by Jacek Zielonka.

In the second half clear cut chances were hard to come by. Kai Williams of Barwell looked dangerous on the left flank but the visitors were resolute in defence and were quick on the break. It was one such breakaway that led to the third penalty of the afternoon. No dispute on this a late challenge in the box and Zielonka scored again from the penalty spot.

Barwell tried in vain for a leveller but Lowestoft were well organised at the back and their big defenders were winning every header as they held on for an opening day win.

The attendance today was 249. So my non-league quest continues next Saturday with more Southern League Premier (Central) football when I make the slightly longer journey to North West Leicestershire and Owen Street, the home of Coalville Town.

Barwell

Thursday 14 April 2016

Kirkby Road Sports Ground

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