Canaries lose seven goal thriller
BARWELL 3 ST.IVES TOWN 4
Southern League Premier Central
AN eventful game ends in heartbreaking Barwell defeat, writes Joe Mathieson.
Barwell welcomed St. Ives Town to Kirkby Road in the Canaries penultimate home fixture as they looked for revenge for the 3-1 defeat in the reverse clash earlier this season.
Barwell couldn’t have asked for a much better start as after just three minutes they were awarded a penalty, Tristan Dunkley was tripped in the box and the referee pointed to the spot.
Skipper Brady Hickey then stepped and calmly drilled the penalty down the middle for 1-0.
With 10 gone however the Cambridgeshire visitors were level, a huge deflection off the original shot helping Jonathan Edwards’ shot past Will Brook. Ten minutes later Barwell came close through Hickey once again, good work between him and Leroy Lita allowed the Barwell captain to shoot but his effort was well held by the St.Ives keeper.
With 31 minutes on the clock Barwell were back in front, a Deen Master corner fell to Lita who’s shot bounced back off the post to Isaiah Osbourne who tapped home the rebound. Precisely 10 minutes later the visitors would be level again, a delightful free kick from Michael Richens sailed into the top corner leaving Brook with no chance.
Barwell made a double substitution at the interval, Dunkley and Master being replaced by Jahvan Davidson-Miller and Micah Edwards respectively. Barwell began the second 45 the brighter substitute Davidson-Miller twisting and turning inside the box allowed himself space to get a shot off but it was blocked. With 57 minutes played the ball dropped to Ethan Hill on the edge of the box but his long distance effort was blocked once again. Barwell came close again after 64 minutes, George Ward able to get a shot on target from just inside the box but it was superbly saved by the travelling goalkeeper.
St.Ives would find themselves down to ten men after 70 minutes, their number 8 shown a second yellow card for a mistimed slide challenge. Barwell almost retook the lead two minutes later, Davidson-Miller firing narrowly over from a tight angle. The visitors wouldn’t let the ten men stop them as they took the lead after 75 minutes, a swift counter attack allowed their Amara Kaunda to smash the ball home into the top corner.
Barwell pressed heavily following the goal and came close three minutes later, Lita heading just wide. Any man advantage Barwell may have had was cleared when they too were down to ten men, MJ Kamara receiving a second yellow for allegedly swiping at a St.Ives players arm.
Barwell kept coming forward however and Hill once again found space on the edge of the box but this time his shot sailed over. Barwell were level after 84 minutes however, Lita this time able to guide his header on target and into the back of the net, connecting with a Josh Flanagan cross.
Just after this Flanagan was brought off, replaced by Ahmed Obeng. It would be a late heartbreak for Barwell though, as just inside the 90th minute, a wind shortened goal kick fell kindly to Jonathan Edwards who made no mistake in slotting home one on one with Brook to give his side all the points.