Barwell were dismantled by a spirited Mickleover side that had made many changes of personnel since the previous meeting of the clubs earlier in the season.

Whilst missing a number of key personnel, this can be no excuse for a Canaries side that were outplayed at both ends of the park.

Barwell started strongly and for the first ten minutes looked threatening however it was the visitors who struck the first blow after just 12 minutes when a corner from the impressive John McGrath was neatly headed into the net at the near post by hat trick hero Zeph Thomas.

From this point Barwell were always playing catch up and Sports took the upper hand.

With a quarter hour played, another corner from McGrath was headed onto the goalline by former Canary Antony Griffiths-Junior only to be defended off the line by Callum Woodward. The ball rebounded out to Andy Dales outside the box who drove two foot over the bar.

Chances abounded in front of Barwell’s goal but the visiting forwards were well off target and at the other end a shot from Alex Tomkinson was deflected away for a corner.

However, it was Barwell who had the last say of the half as a loose ball came out to Tomkinson. He created space for a shot and thundered the ball into the net from 18 yards.

Mickleover started the second period the more determined and there were chances for Dales and Andre Olukanmi who went down in the penalty area under the challenge of Declan Towers. However, referee Mr. Taylor saw no infringement and waved away the Mickleover appeals.

With 68 minutes played Thomas beat Woodward in the area and shot across Castle to double Sports’ lead.

Soon after a Woodward free kick was well met by Towers who headed into the ground and onto the crossbar.

Barwell continued to respond and a Towers cross was tipped over the bar by keeper Atkins for a home corner. Tomkinson’s corner was deflected into the side netting.

With 76 minutes on the clock, Barwell equalised after a loose ball in the Mickleover box fell to Owen Story who rifled home from six yards.

With ten minutes remaining Mickleover took over and a cross from Okulanmi found Thomas 10 yards out from where he volleyed past Castle.

Three minutes from time, Barwell’s woes were compounded as the influential McGrath pick up a ball on the left and after drifting past two defenders shot with the outside of his boot into the right side of Castle’s goal.

So Barwell dropped one place in the table and must now put this defeat behind them and move on to the away fixture with Salford City on the 2nd January.

Team: Liam Castle, Callum Woodward, Eddy Nisevic, Joe Ballinger, Declan Towers, Richard Lavery, Alex Tomkinson (Brady Hickey 74), Nigel Julien, Luke Barlone, Owen Story, Isaac Cooper (Reece Hayes 64).
Subs not used: Ant Carney, Scott Lower, Cameron Powell

Goals: Tomkinson 45 (assist Cooper), Story 76.

Yellow Cards: Woodward 42, Julien 65, Towers 86.

Attendance: 175.