Barwell came into the first 158 Derby of the season looking for a first league win since August. Nuneaton came into the clash hoping to keep their recent run of good form going. A cagey opening ten minutes saw little action as both sides attempted to get a foothold in the game. The first chance of the game came with 11 minutes played as a good Nuneaton cross found experienced striker Leroy Lita unmarked in the box but his header cannoned back off the post. Barwell slowly grew into the game and could have gone in front with 25 minutes gone when Tom Cursons found himself through on goal but his low effort was well saved by the home keeper. The breakthrough would come just after the half an hour mark when a Sid Kerr corner found Kyle Rowley at the back post, who headed the ball back towards goal and to his defensive partner George Ward who headed home from five yards out. Not much happened between Barwell’s opening goal and their second goal, which came on the stroke of half time when Beck-Ray Enoru avoided two challenges and dribbled into the box, but his effort was deflected into the path of an unmarked Brady Hickey who smashed the ball into the roof of the net.

Half-Time: Barwell 2-0 Nuneaton

The second half began with little to note, Nuneaton having more of the ball but Barwell defending well and looked dangerous on the counter attack and after 56 minutes almost had a goal because of one, Cursons again in a good position to shoot but his effort straight into the hands of the Nuneaton goalkeeper. Just two minutes later however, Nuneaton halved the deficit when Matthew Stenson latched onto a poor pass, his original shot was well saved by new Barwell keeper Harry Evans but the parried ball fell back to the feet of Stenson who made no mistake the second time around. It was to be a nervy last half an hour for the Barwell fans. Nuneaton came close again with 20 minutes remaining, Lita again managing to win a header in the box but this time it came back off the crossbar and Barwell could clear their lines. With 76 minutes played, a clumsy foul on Stenson gave Nuneaton the chance to equalise from the penalty spot, Stenson himself getting back up to take it. However, his decision to go for power over precision cost him and the ball sailed over the bar and the Barwell camp could breathe a huge sigh of relief. Just after Barwell made a double change with Micah Edwards and new man Jamie McGuire replacing Dominic Brown-Hill and Sid Kerr. Barwell keeper Harry Evans would go into the book for time wasting with ten minutes to play as The Canaries looked to hold on for all three points. A head injury to Matt Stenson just before the 90 was up meant Barwell had to endure another 12 minutes of stoppage time as Nuneaton threw the kitchen sink in to find an equaliser and they almost found it with 95 on the clock but an incredible save by Evans kept the score at 2-1. Deep into stoppage time Barwell made their third change with Jahvan Davidson-Miller coming on for Cursons. Barwell were able to hold on for the big 158 derby day win, brilliant defending and goalkeeping maintaining the lead throughout the second half. A hard fought and thoroughly deserved win for The Canaries.

Full-Time: Barwell 2-1 Nuneaton