Barwell’s walking wounded lose at home

BARWELL continued their poor run of home form with a 2-0 defeat to Nantwich Town on New Year’s Day, writes Luke Pawley.

Inside the first minute of the game, Nantwich striker Harry Clayton capitalised on a mistake in the Barwell defence to loop the ball into the back of the net.

A Nantwich goal so early on in the game was to set the tone for the 90 minutes that followed.

The home side tried to press aggressively, but Jimmy Ginnelly confirmed after the game that over half of his starting players were injured - and it was blatantly obvious for all to see.

Jake Heath pulled an effort wide from 20 yards midway through the first half, but a very scrappy affair lead to little to report at either end.

Liam Kay replaced Owen Story, who was struggling with a back problem, at the break.

Nantwich put a couple of threatening moves together, and doubled their tally on 70 minutes when Sean Cooke rounded Mikey Turner to slot into an empty net.

Barwell team: Mikey Turner; Elliot Percival, Craig Stanley (c), Declan Towers, Nisevic; Jake Whitmore, Jake Heath, Lee Hildreth (Jake Warmington 79’), Owen Story (Kay 46’); Brady Hickey; Stenson (Piggon 45’). Unused subs: Ball, Bates.

Sponsor’s Man of the Match: Brady Hickey. Attendance: 163

After the game, the manager said he is looking to bring in new players.

Jimmy Ginelly said: “I played the walking wounded today. Five lads probably shouldn’t have started the game. They’ve all got pulls, knocks, strains, sickness bugs.

“They were like the walking wounded.

“I didn’t really want to say a lot to anybody before because we just wanted to try and get through the game.

“It was always going to be a tall order, but the effort the lads have put in over the last two games – on heavy pitches – has taken its toll.

“I was disappointed that Liam (Castle) couldn’t play today. Mikey’s (Turner) gone in. He’s come racing out for that one (first goal) and I think he could have been backed up by a fully fit Dec Towers. In my opinion, he would have got across and sorted that out. Mikey’s come out and got caught in the first minute, so we were mountain climbing from the first minute.

“After that, I think it was a very poor, scrappy game of football. Bad, heavy, muddy pitch.

“But with the actual result, I’m very disappointed because I think we could have at least nicked a point.”

On Ryan Baldwin, the manager said: “Ryan’s young. I’ve spoken to him 10 times asking him to go to the hospital and get me a diagnosis.

“He tells me every day that he’s ‘going tomorrow’ so I keep asking him to please go to the hospital because he can’t put his foot on the floor at the minute still.

“He’ll be out for a month, but if he doesn’t go to the hospital and get a diagnosis then none of us will ever know.”

The manager is planning to bring in some new players.

Ginnelly said: “Well, we’ve got ‘seven days’ in for four players at the minute. I’ll speak to two or three of them today or tomorrow to see how they got on today and if they’re interested in coming to the club. I think we do need a couple of bodies to freshen the changing rooms up. So yeah, I’ll probably bring a couple in this week.

“Three away games on the trot now. Very tough. We’re better away from home for some strange reason, that’s always been the case with Barwell.

“It’s a tough place to go, we always have tough fixtures at Matlock. I say it every week, we’ll always go there and give it our best shot and see how we do.

The manager also had a few words for the supporters saying: “Thank you for your support. You’ve been brilliant for the seven years I’ve been here. You’ve never let me down, always supported me win, lose or draw.

“Just keep coming through the gates and I’ll keep trying to put a smile on your face guys.”