Drury frustrated as Steelmen defenders fail to learn their lessons in Barwell defeat
Boss Graham Drury hailed the quality of Barwell's hat-trick hero Luke Benbow after Corby Town's 4-0 defeat on the road on Saturday - but was also left frustrated by his team's defending.
Benbow was making his Barwell debut after signing on dual registration from Step 3 side Rushall Olympic, and he had a devastating impact, scoring twice in the first half and then completing his hat-trick on 54 minutes.
The home side then added a fourth in the final minute through Timothy Oyanda to complete an emphatic win
But that was just the icing on the cake for Barwell, who were indebted to 35-year-old Benbow's quality in front of goal.
"I have played against Luke Benbow at Step 3 for many, many years, and I don't think there has been a game where he has not scored," Drury told @chuckmiddleton.
"But if you stand off a player like that... his finishes were exceptional.
"I had said to the players, if you give him in inch he will take a mile, and if you give him a mile he will stick the ball in the net, and I am really frustrated.
"The same defender's not learned his lesson from the first one and he has done the same on the second goal and then you have a mountain to climb.
"Benbow has ended up with a hat-trick, and it is a fantastic hat-trick, and then at the end we are pushing and you can forget the fourth goal, goal difference isn't going to be our problem because we have to try and get points on the board.
"We created a couple of chances, but Barwell defended very well.
"I think their two central defenders have defended very well against their forwards, and I think if Benbow had played for us today then I think the scoreline might have gone the other way.
"Looking at the bells and whistles of the whole game, I don't think they were loads better than us, they just had a striker who was clinical.
"Luke Benbow was the difference and fair play to Barwell, they have made a cracking signing.
"He was on my radar as he had been on loan at Coleshill and I was waiting for him to back, and obviously Barwell have jumped in first and signed a top striker for Step 4."
The defeat leaves the Steelmen sitting second bottom in the Pitching-In Northern Premier League Midlands Division, and they are now a concerning eight points adrift of safety.
Corby can reduce that gap to five as they entertain 10th-placed Mickleover at Steel Park on Tuesday night (ko 7.45pm).