Match Report

Due to the laying of their new 3G pitch, our matches v Barwell have been reversed.

Diamonds fell to a gut-wrenching 1-0 defeat to Barwell on Tuesday night thanks to an added time smash and grab by the hard-pressed visitors.

Diamonds dominated possession without creating too many chances in a first half impacted at times by gusting wind and heavy rain. Ravi Shamsi fired a free kick just over and Ryan Hughes came close to Alex Collard’s header back across goal from close in.

Diamonds continued to dominate in the second half creating a series of good positions that they couldn’t quite turn into the killer chance. Tom Lorraine was so nearly onto an excellent through ball and Connor Furlong fired over when well set up. Will Jones and Nathan Tshikuna came on and the chances started to flow. Tshikuna saw the keeper save really well at full stretch and Will Jones saw a low effort tipped just wide. Pressure mounted and the crowd really got into the game during a series of corners and free kicks that couldn’t quite be forced home. It looked like only one team was going to win it but Barwell inflicted the classic smash and grab as they broke in injury time and Harry Bower scored with their only shot on goal lobbing Dean Snedker superbly.

Match Summary: Paul Judd

Full report to follow…

Preview

Diamonds take on old friends Barwell on Tuesday night in Southern League Premier Division Central action in the third of four consecutive home games. Two tight games saw a draw against Rushall and defeat on Saturday to Alvechurch so a win on Tuesday night is very much needed by Andy Peaks’ men to start to show a good haul from the 4 home game sequence.

Barwell would love a home game just now having played the entire season away from home while they have an artificial pitch laid at Kirby Road. It means fixtures have been reversed in the schedule and they will play 13 consecutive home games between December and February next year!!

Barwell

Barwell FC was created in 1992 with the merger of Hinckley and Barwell Athletic. Starting in the Midland Football Combination league, moving to the Midland Football Alliance league and then into Northern Premier League Division One they achieved Step 3 status in 2011 and moved into the Southern League structure.

They reached the semi-finals of the FA Vase early in their existence and reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup in 2015 (beating Diamonds in a dramatic Fourth Round Qualifying – see below), going out to Welling United 2-0.

Previous Games

That Fourth Round Qualifying tie was probably the most dramatic period in Diamonds’ early history at the Dog & Duck. Barwell were the higher ranked side and Diamonds put in a tremendous performance in front of a large travelling crowd to fight back to a 2-2 draw thanks to Liam Dolman’s iconic, added time equaliser. The two sides enjoyed being part of the First Round draw on the Monday and then played the replay in front of Diamonds’ record attendance of with much media attention. An evenly fought game was finally won by Barwell with a 70th minute Brady Hickey goal.

The clubs have clashed five times in Southern League Premier Central action with Diamonds unbeaten in all fixtures. Andy Peaks’ side did the double over Barwell in the 2019/20 season (0-2 at Kirkby Road, 3-1 at Hayden Road) and there have been three draws – all by 1-1 score lines.

Recent Form

Diamonds come into the game off the back of no wins in 4 and defeat last time out. Diamonds scored once in all those games but couldn’t find the vital second in any of them which Alvechurch did on Saturday and Royston did at the start of the run …as well as a third. Diamonds have 12 points from 11 games with 3 wins and 5 defeats that have mostly been won by a single goal. A second goal is needed as a minimum on Tuesday.

Barwell sit below Diamonds with 10 points after playing 12 away games. Wins on the opening day at Lowestoft and at the end of September at St. Ives have been surrounded by 4 draws and 6 defeats. 7 were conceded at Biggleswade recently before a 2 1 defeat at Leiston. A third win on the road would encourage Barwell as home games are due to commence at at the start of November.

The Match

The game has the making of another tight contest. The performance of the Diamonds’ midfield will be key as they try to control the game better than in recent games. If they can release the attacking talent they undoubtedly have more often then goals will surely follow.

We’ll be a tad low on numbers on Tuesday but should have Radio Diamonds, Twitter updates and Stadium Announcer all covered between Joseph and myself. Look out for match report, interviews and highlights too.

Enjoy the game

Paul Judd

Radio Diamonds