Barwell 1
Nantwich Town 1
League (NPL Premier Division)

Match Report

A 90th minute penalty by Josh Hancock ensured Nantwich Town earned a point in a 1-1 draw at Barwell.

Ben Harrison’s late cross was handled by Niall Rowe, and Hancock dispatched the spot kick to keep the Dabbers’ unbeaten run to 10 games.

Boss Phil Parkinson made four changes from Tuesday’s victory with Dave Walker, Osebi Abadaki, Tim Sanders and Joel Stair in for Ibou Touray, Matt Bell, Sean Cooke and Ryan Brooke.

Osebi Abadaki found time and space inside the Barwell box on 12 minutes but could only shoot straight at keeper Max Smith-Varnam.

Two minutes later, Sanders on his debut played in Theo Stair whose curling effort on goal was palmed away by Smith-Varnam.

At the other end, Dave Parton had to be alert as he saved well from Montel Gibson who had been played in on goal with only the keeper to beat.

But chances continued to be created by the Dabbers as a deflected ball fell into the path of Wayne Riley, with the midfielder’s powerful shot well saved by Smith-Varnam.

Ten minutes later, Abadaki was involved again as his close range shot smacked the post and flew out for a goal kick.

Nantwich found themselves a goal down in the 39th minute as Brady Hickey finished from close range after the ball had fallen kindly to the Barwell skipper.

After the break, Parkinson introduced Hancock and he almost had an instant impact as his through ball found Abadaki whose shot found the net, but it was ruled offside.

Ten minutes later, the Dabbers should have had a penalty as Harrison’s goal-bound header stuck a Barwell defender’s arm on the line.

Referee Simon Barrow waved appeals away.

But the Dabbers earned their reward later when they did get a spot kick in the last minute of time as Niall Rowe blocked Harrison’s cross from the left with his hands.

Up stepped Josh Hancock who confidently put the penalty away in the corner.

Nantwich did look for a winner deep into stoppage time but Barwell cleared any potential danger away after Theo Stair had weaved into the box and fired a dangerous looking ball across.

The draw leaves Nantwich in 16th place in Evo-Stik Premier Division, but with games in hand on most sides around them.

Nantwich Town: Parton, J. Stair (Touray 48), White, Curtis Jones, Harrison, Riley, T. Stair, Hall, Walker (Brooke 67?), Sanders (Hancock 50), O. Abadaki. Subs not used: Bell, Cooke.

Match report written by Steve Sharman (www.nantwichtownfc.co.uk)