Lowestoft Town made the best possible start to the new Pitching In Southern League Premier Central season by maintaining their unbeaten record against the Canaries - coming from behind to win by the odd goal of three.
Lowestoft gave league debuts to new signings Owen Murphy and Tom Debenham with Kieran Higgs making his league return after missing 18 months through injury.
Lowestoft made a lively start with Debenham’s shot deflected for a corner from which Jacek Zielonka’s shot was well held by Max Bramley. Barwell were equally lively and soon it was Luis Tibbles, who was forced to save from Kai Williams and Jayden Cotterill.
Williams was proving to be a handful down the flanks but saw several low crosses into the danger zone failed to be converted.
It was Barwell who opened the scoring with the first of the game’s three penalties.
In a melee of players just inside the area it was adjudged that Leandro Browne had been brought down and Brady Hickey stepped up to convert the spot kick.
Lowestoft responded with Debenham just failing to get on the end of Zielonka’s far post cross and Jake Reed was adjudged to be marginally offside as his shot spiralled up off Bramley and in off the far post.
Just a minute later Lowestoft were level with penalty number two.
Higgs had looked the liveliest of the Trawlerboys and as he cut in from the right he was brought down by Eddy Nisevic although it looked suspiciously just outside the box.
No matter - Zielonka showed why he had taken on the spot kick mantle by blasting past Bramley for the leveller.
The second half started with Hickey’s goal ruled out for offside before Tann sent a header just too high from Zielonka’s corner. Tibbles was forced into an excellent point blank save from Williams before the home side made a double substitution.
In the 76th minute Lowestoft made their first change of the afternoon with Louis McIntosh replacing Debenham and within a minute they were ahead.
Once again it was Higgs who created the opportunity as he cut in from the right and was brought down by Elliott Percival with Zielonka again hammering in the spot kick.
Lowestoft comfortably played out the final 10 minutes sending on Travis Cole and Miguel Lopez to strengthen things at the back.
BARWELL: Bramley, Edwards, Nisevic Cotterill, Percival, Julien, Redhead, Browne (Sub Davidson-Miller 62), Dunkley (Sub Omotola 62), Hickey, Williams (Sub Hollis 81), Subs (not used) Bennett, McDonald
LOWESTOFT TOWN: Tibbles, Murphy (Sub Cole 88), Wilkinson Jarvis, Curry, Tann, Zielonka, Fisk, Reed, Debenham (Sub McIntosh 76), Higgs (Sub Lopez 90+4), Subs (not used) Wells, Reynolds
Referee: Mr G Davis
TERRY LYNES