For my final game of 2025, I decided to head back up the M1 to Leicestershire for a Leicestershire & Rutland Challenge Cup quarter-final tie between GNG Oadby Town and Barwell. Despite this being a local derby with just over 11 miles between the grounds, it's not been a frequent fixture in recent years. There are currently two divisions separating the clubs, although neither club is exactly setting their respective league alight this season. Oadby play in the United Counties Premier South (Step 5) and are currently sitting second from bottom. Barwell play in the Southern league Premier Central (Step 3) and are currently placed 16th, eight points above the relegation spots. The teams last met in a league match during the 2009-10 Midland Alliance season. Barwell won both encounters, 6-0 at home and 3-1 away, on their way to taking the title and gaining promotion. They met more recently in this competition, with Barwell also coming out on top, winning 3-0 at Kirkby Road. The only other meeting of note in recent times, was an FA Vase clash in the 2006-07 season. Oadby gained a creditable 0-0 draw at Barwell, but then went down 2-0 at home in the replay.
Barwell free-kick It was clear from the off that Oadby were not going to respect the two tier difference in the teams, and flew out of the blocks from the off. Their high-tempo play seemed to rock Barwell a little in the opening encounters, although the only attempt on target in the first ten minutes came when Taylor Shilcock tested Finn Osborn from distance. The home side looked dangerous on both flanks, especially on the left, where the pace of Mario Mendez was recognised early on by the Barwell defence.
Having made it through the opening third unscathed, Barwell then came close to grabbing the first goal themselves when a left-wing corner was only marginally too high for Sidik Atcha at the far post. A few minutes later, Oadby's Rizvan Hussain also tested out Osborn, with a quick turn and shot from the edge4 of the area.
Just before the half-hour, Barwell's Tyree Wilson produced a delightful piece of skill, controlling a long ball with his cheat before sending a dipping volley goalward, only for GNG stopper, Adam Binks, to match it with an equally impressive acrobatic save.
Oadby continued to look slightly the more dangerous team, their pace up front causing the visitors plenty of nervy moments. That said, as we approached the 40 minute mark, Barwell captain Kane Richards was sent clear by Wilson, only to see his driven cross evade everyone in the centre. Almost immediately afterwards, Oadby had a real chance when Stanley Mugisha intercepted a stray pass on the halfway line, raced clear and sent in a vicious drive that required Osborn to go full-length to tip the ball around the post.
It looked as if the Step 5 side were going to go into the break level until, with two minutes remaining in the half, Tyrell Waite drove down the Barwell left, taking the ball to the by-line before cutting back for Tyree Wilson, who struck the ball first-time, on the run, into the top corner. A great finish, even if slightly against the run of play. 0-1. To add salt into those wounds, three minutes into added time Oadby gave the ball away deep inside their own half and were immediately and clinically punished. The ball was quickly fed into Anthony Dwyer, who made no mistake with the finish. 0-2
HT GNG Oadby Town 0 Barwell 2. The Step 5 side more than held their own for just over 40 minutes but were then undone by a quality finish and a momentary lapse of concentration at the back. That was the difference. Barwell showed their higher-ranked status by taking their chances.
Having made it through the opening third unscathed, Barwell then came close to grabbing the first goal themselves when a left-wing corner was only marginally too high for Sidik Atcha at the far post. A few minutes later, Oadby's Rizvan Hussain also tested out Osborn, with a quick turn and shot from the edge4 of the area.
Just before the half-hour, Barwell's Tyree Wilson produced a delightful piece of skill, controlling a long ball with his cheat before sending a dipping volley goalward, only for GNG stopper, Adam Binks, to match it with an equally impressive acrobatic save.
Oadby continued to look slightly the more dangerous team, their pace up front causing the visitors plenty of nervy moments. That said, as we approached the 40 minute mark, Barwell captain Kane Richards was sent clear by Wilson, only to see his driven cross evade everyone in the centre. Almost immediately afterwards, Oadby had a real chance when Stanley Mugisha intercepted a stray pass on the halfway line, raced clear and sent in a vicious drive that required Osborn to go full-length to tip the ball around the post.
It looked as if the Step 5 side were going to go into the break level until, with two minutes remaining in the half, Tyrell Waite drove down the Barwell left, taking the ball to the by-line before cutting back for Tyree Wilson, who struck the ball first-time, on the run, into the top corner. A great finish, even if slightly against the run of play. 0-1. To add salt into those wounds, three minutes into added time Oadby gave the ball away deep inside their own half and were immediately and clinically punished. The ball was quickly fed into Anthony Dwyer, who made no mistake with the finish. 0-2
HT GNG Oadby Town 0 Barwell 2. The Step 5 side more than held their own for just over 40 minutes but were then undone by a quality finish and a momentary lapse of concentration at the back. That was the difference. Barwell showed their higher-ranked status by taking their chances.
Oadby pushing for a way back It was clear early on in the second half that Barwell were not planning to give Oadby a chance to get back into the game. In the first half the visitors had been rattled by Town's attacking approach, but there seemed to be a new steel to the Barwell side in the second half. With a two goal lead, they didn't necessarily need to go looking for goals, they could just tighten the game up.
Around ten minutes in, Richards almost combined with Waite to add to the lead and, a few minutes later, Hussain brought a good save out of Osborn once again. On the hour a Barwell short corner routine ended with Dwyer flashing a shot wide. Then, on 63 minutes, Oadby were inches away from getting back into the game when a long throw from the right was flicked on twice before reaching Hussain, who's scissor kick clipped the top of the bar on its way out. Was that the big chance for the home team to get back into the game? As it turned out, yes it was. Both teams had half chances, but the only target hit was one of the Barwell supporters behind the Oadby goal.
FT GNG Oadby Town 0 Barwell 2. A semi-final berth secured by Barwell, but it was certainly not plain-sailing. Oadby defied the two step gap, by pushing their visitors all the way. On this display, it's hard to understand how Oadby can be in the relegation zone of their league. If they continue to play like this, they will surely pull clear. Their next game is a massive relegation 6-pointer at home to bottom side Bugbrooke St Michaels, who beat them 2-1 at Camp Hill back in August. Barwell, meanwhile, travel to leaders Spalding United on Saturday, in their first meeting this season.
GNG Oadby Town: 1.Binks, 2.Shilcock, 3.Anbhavne, 4.Kpolom-A-Kpolom, Gill(c), 7.Nnjai, 8.Jennings, 9.Mugisha, 10.Hussain, 11.Mendez, 14.Baker, 15. Apetorgor, 17.Jaga Singh, 18. Hanif, 19.Jeva Singh, 20.Dhami.
Barwell: 1.Osborn, 3.Reeve, 5.Atcha, 6.Mancinelli, 7.Hayes, 8.Hill, 10.Richards(c), 11.Wilson, 15.Dwyer, 16.Singh. Subs: 2.McDonald, 4.Cook, 12.Stockley, 19.Seaton
Around ten minutes in, Richards almost combined with Waite to add to the lead and, a few minutes later, Hussain brought a good save out of Osborn once again. On the hour a Barwell short corner routine ended with Dwyer flashing a shot wide. Then, on 63 minutes, Oadby were inches away from getting back into the game when a long throw from the right was flicked on twice before reaching Hussain, who's scissor kick clipped the top of the bar on its way out. Was that the big chance for the home team to get back into the game? As it turned out, yes it was. Both teams had half chances, but the only target hit was one of the Barwell supporters behind the Oadby goal.
FT GNG Oadby Town 0 Barwell 2. A semi-final berth secured by Barwell, but it was certainly not plain-sailing. Oadby defied the two step gap, by pushing their visitors all the way. On this display, it's hard to understand how Oadby can be in the relegation zone of their league. If they continue to play like this, they will surely pull clear. Their next game is a massive relegation 6-pointer at home to bottom side Bugbrooke St Michaels, who beat them 2-1 at Camp Hill back in August. Barwell, meanwhile, travel to leaders Spalding United on Saturday, in their first meeting this season.
GNG Oadby Town: 1.Binks, 2.Shilcock, 3.Anbhavne, 4.Kpolom-A-Kpolom, Gill(c), 7.Nnjai, 8.Jennings, 9.Mugisha, 10.Hussain, 11.Mendez, 14.Baker, 15. Apetorgor, 17.Jaga Singh, 18. Hanif, 19.Jeva Singh, 20.Dhami.
Barwell: 1.Osborn, 3.Reeve, 5.Atcha, 6.Mancinelli, 7.Hayes, 8.Hill, 10.Richards(c), 11.Wilson, 15.Dwyer, 16.Singh. Subs: 2.McDonald, 4.Cook, 12.Stockley, 19.Seaton
The Riverside Ground
The Ground
GNG Oadby Town play their home games at The Riverside Football Ground which is situated in the Braunstone Town area of Leicester, south-west of the city centre. Accessed via the entrance to Ellesmere College, there's a small car park alongside the ground with extra parking on the side of the access route and in front of the college. The ground is accessed via a single gate just to the side of the main building that houses all of the facilities, clubhouse, snack bar and changing areas. There are two covered spectator areas, the main stand on the left-hand side as you enter and a covered standing area situated behind, and just to the right, of the car park end goal. The dugouts are opposite the main stand. The playing surface looks to be pretty much flat, with no discernible slopes.
GNG Oadby Town play their home games at The Riverside Football Ground which is situated in the Braunstone Town area of Leicester, south-west of the city centre. Accessed via the entrance to Ellesmere College, there's a small car park alongside the ground with extra parking on the side of the access route and in front of the college. The ground is accessed via a single gate just to the side of the main building that houses all of the facilities, clubhouse, snack bar and changing areas. There are two covered spectator areas, the main stand on the left-hand side as you enter and a covered standing area situated behind, and just to the right, of the car park end goal. The dugouts are opposite the main stand. The playing surface looks to be pretty much flat, with no discernible slopes.
The Programme
A 28-page magazine with full-colour, glossy outer pages, costing £2.00. The programme contains all of the standard articles, a welcome message, history of both clubs and this season's statistics for both the first-team and youth teams. There's also an article from the Non-League Paper and an interesting piece from Martyn Green about data analytics. Add to that a brief match report from the last meeting of the teams, back in January 2015, and there's plenty of interesting reading for the half-time break.
Ground Number: 474
Att:
Entrance: £6.00
Programme: £2.00
A 28-page magazine with full-colour, glossy outer pages, costing £2.00. The programme contains all of the standard articles, a welcome message, history of both clubs and this season's statistics for both the first-team and youth teams. There's also an article from the Non-League Paper and an interesting piece from Martyn Green about data analytics. Add to that a brief match report from the last meeting of the teams, back in January 2015, and there's plenty of interesting reading for the half-time break.
Ground Number: 474
Att:
Entrance: £6.00
Programme: £2.00
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