Teddy Toss

Barwell 1-0 Banbury United (Southern League Central Division)

Non league football can be confusing. Eight years ago Barwell were in the Northern Premier League. Just two seasons ago Banbury United were in the National League North, but here for a second successive campaign will the two teams do battle against each other in the Southern League Premier Central Division.

I watched a 1-0 win for Banbury at Kirkby Road early last season. The return fixture was 2-1 to Barwell and with the two teams middle of the table separated by just four points I'm expecting another close encounter tonight.

Kelvin Langmead's Banbury are twelfth having drew 0-0 at the weekend with promotion chasing Needham Market whilst Barwell managed by Jimmy Ginnelly haven't won in five since I last saw them beat Stratford here 5-2 in mid-November.

It's a Monday night kick-off in the rain as I step out the door late afternoon, I nip in to see my sister and drop off my nephew a present for his birthday before heading down the A46 from Bingham, straight over the M1 signposted Leicester through Ratby and Desford and down country roads dipping in and out of main beam in what is more often than not, total darkness.

The Venue

I'm early so check out a chippy in Barwell as I'm hungry and haven't eaten yet, Barwell Chef's has a 3.6 rating on Google so I'm instantly put off, looking for alternatives, I read Chris's Fish & Chips is ok, but in the wrong direction, I decide to wait, so drive back up the Kirkby Road and pull up outside Barwell Cemetery which is opposite the towns all action sports ground.

It seems to have everything here, Indoor bowls, outdoor bowls, cricket, football, there's a boozer called 'the Barn' outside the entrance, I walk through the car park and towards the turnstile, ground lit up in the background as the rain glistens under the floodlights.

It's a wet one for sure, cold too, but the surface here is synthetic so there shouldn't be any issues tonight.

It's £12 entrance, I'm immediately asked for a go on Golden Goal which is £2, I peel off 38 minutes which I think gives me half a chance, before walking to the kiosk for a drink, and maybe a bite to eat.

I'm a funny fucker when it comes to food, I fancy chips and curry or kebab meat tonight but they've got burgers and bacon cobs which I'm really not feeling. I instead opt for a tea and a Lion Bar before walking to the small seated stand on half way, where I expect everyone to sit tonight as it's pretty much the only cover here, the pitch fenced within green mesh has high walls wrapped around full of advertising boards, 'welcome to the Crown Skip Hire Stadium' reads one large blue banner opposite.

It's a great view as I'm joined by a couple of locals and Topliss at the Turnstiles who's a Youtuber with almost 4,000 subscribers (take a look here). He's brought his camera phone tonight and is hopeful of recording 'almost' every moment for his slowly increasingly popular vlog.

The Game

There's a Teddy Toss ahead of kick off, fans have bears in hands as the players walk out, they throw them onto the pitch ahead of the club donating them to the Menphys Children's Disability Charity, it's all very Ice Hockey but a really nice touch as both sets of fans get involved and hurl cuddly toys at the players heads in front.

No injuries thankfully and bears soon evacuated, the game gets under way on time and is fast paced in cold and wet conditions, frantic from both sides who not only battle with the elements, but battle with each other in true non league manner.

Barwell have Dan Jarvis playing for them, he's one of Peterborough Sports better players from the league above, I ask a fan if he's dual registered or signed permanently, he says "I don't know, they never tell you owt here".

The home team look up for it, front foot and aggressive, 4-3-3 they have Kane Richards behind Anthony Dwyer and Jevin Seaton up front who I have heard loads about but not seen much of, he's thick set physical, scruffy looking with dreads and beard but seems to be enjoying himself leading the line very well indeed.

The away team have less of the ball but in their diminutive midfielder Joel Anker they have the best player on the park, he glides away from players at pace, good control, orchestrating, a good footballer who I believe who signed this season from MK Dons.

Despite the action front to back and back again there's not much goal mouth stuff to hand, a couple of yellow cards and a couple of sniffs off target, before Jevin Seaton tries his luck from distance, he's pot shotted from 20 yards out a low fizzing effort which is straight at the keeper, young Jack Harding however has his legs open, the ball spills beneath them and puts Barwell one up, an embarrassing error from the Banbury goalkeeper.

The Score

At half time Topliss nips off for a pint as I check the scores from the few games around the country tonight, both Manchester United and Redditch are winning, as are Derby at Sheffield Wednesday, I've a thick blanket over my knees, my handwarmers on level two and my furry hat which I brought from New York keeping my head nice and warm, there's a couple of hundred here tonight, not one for the fair-weather fans, certainly all about the die hards.

The second half starts and Banbury immediately crash the crossbar, Flanagan up from centre half with a deflected effort which flicks off the metal and goes behind, the Puritans have came out chasing, Wreh shoots wide before a goalmouth scramble has him head towards goal which is cleared off his line by Dwyer, there's a bit of needle in the match created by the mid table stakes on offer, as a Barwell corner up the other end see's some tussling between Prince Mancinelli and Chris Wreh.

There's pushing and shoving which carries on after the ball is cleared, suddenly they're all getting involved, arms in faces and players going down, I count four minutes of madness before the female official takes her male assistants to one side, all three have a chat and the verdict is Mancinelli guilty, he's shown red, Wreh gets away with yellow.

There's an injury and a couple of subs, before play finally gets back under way, still twenty minutes to go (plus extras) it's now destined to be one way traffic with Banbury attacking the ten men Barwell goal.

Anker by now is becoming more influential as a late effort of his hits the woodwork again, he can't unlock the door which by now is defended heroically by the likes of Freddie Cook, Sonny Singh and big Sid Aitcha who's been brilliant since he came on.

There's long throw-ins into the box and crosses from out wide but everything is dealt with, the Barwell support becoming more and more vocal, every clearance met by a cheer and a foghorn, the later the game goes with eight minutes added, the more Banbury lack ideas, everything now is being mopped up by Finn Osborn in goal.

One last hoorah is cut short by the official, Barwell cling on, you can't help feel they deserved it for digging in, near 30 minutes a man less, they were superb in fending off Banbury's forward play.

The Stars

A night when defences were on top, for Barwell their back four all deserving credit, Zayn Hakeem had a good game at left back, got forward well and scrapped, before running out of steam, Sid Aitcha coming on late on, heading, clearing, blocking, anything that was kicked towards him.

I was impressed with Barwell in midfield, Ethan Hill has a bit of a funny run, he's like a non league Jordan Henderson, he works hard, battles, but didn't seem to have much end quality, wildly swinging at a couple of early opportunities, Prince Mancinelli has plenty of quality, tall and solid for a centre mid, he keeps things simple, is a player I would consider recommending for a step or two higher, but his petulance in getting sent off, almost cost Barwell the game. Dan Jarvis a good solid debut, working hard for the team with real composure on the ball.

In attack, Barwell worked hard with threat, Kane Richards is always a persistent nuisance, Anthony Dwyer is a player you back to get goals, Jevin Seaton, the sort that will have one good game in five, he had his game tonight, I think he has real quality, but the question is, does he do it often enough at this level?

Banbury saw plenty of the ball but couldn't break down Barwell's resilience, I liked the back four, Keegan Bloom at right back has promise as did his replacement in 16 year-old Max Fuller, Josh Flanagan and in particularly, Alex Worley at centre half did very well, left back George Ball, not his natural position, was very good in forward positions.

The Puritans best player however was easily Joel Anker, a product of MK Dons academy is one that I suspect won't be at this level for long. Just 21 years old he looks capable of playing in a variety of positions across the midfield and attack.

The Verdict

The win takes Barwell to fourteenth a point below Banbury in twelfth, both look like good honest step 3 sides that will be fine at this level as long as they keep doing what they do.

For me, a near perfect night, a cold and wet Monday in middle England, rain soaked action down below, wrapped across my knees a warm blanket whilst watching non league football in December, a scrappy one-nil win with a terrible goal, defended heroically by ten men against a late rally with all players giving 120%

What is more beautiful than a game like this? (some would argue Manchester United 4-4 Bournemouth perhaps), but my only shame is that it's a game played on plastic, instead of grass. Although had it been, it probably wouldn't have even got the go ahead due to the weather.

The Teams

Barwell: Finn Osborn, Malaki Reeve (Sid Aitcha 63), Freddie Cook, Prince Mancinelli, Daniel Jarvis (Elwalid Elhaghany 70), Ethan Hill, Kane Richards, Zayn Hakeem, Anthony Dwyer (Tyrell Waite 80), Sonny Singh, Jevin Seaton (Tyree Wilson 90).

Banbury United: Jack Harding, Keegan Bloom (Max Fuller 56), George Hall, Aaron McCreadie, Josh Flanagan, Alex Worley, Connor Ferguson, Peter Abimbola, Chris Wreh, Harrison Bradney (James Alabi 85), Joel Anker.

7:45pm Kick Off. Monday 15th December 2025, Kirkby Road, Barwell (att 202).