Kimberley Welfare beat new-look Eastwood to lift Horace Hibbert Shield

Separated by only 1.6 miles and by only one level on the non-league pyramid, much was at stake, even if it was only a pre-season friendly.

And although the match failed to attract a three-figure crowd, it proved to be a good workout for both sides, with Welfare winning 2-1 against a new-look Badgers outfit, bolstered by the arrival of fresh management and players from Hucknall Rolls Leisure.

After a slow start to the contest, Central Midlands League outfit Eastwood took a 25th minute lead as Kyle McDermott broke a flimsy offside trap to round ‘keeper Rikki Turner and slot home from 12 yards.

In response, Welfare wasted four or five decent chances, most notably when centre-half Josh Stevenson fired over from close range after a cross by Jarrod Westcarr. But they levelled on 38 with a goal against his former club by Greg Simmons, who fired a well-placed free-kick past static ‘keeper Jack Walker.

The winner arrived 17 minutes into the second period when Westcarr latched on to a through ball, defied offside shouts and nipped round Walker to roll the ball home.

Greg Conn had a goal disallowed for Eastwood, while McDermott also fired just wide. But Westcarr was twice denied by the ‘keeper and Welfare almost added a third in the closing minutes when Stevenson’s effort cannoned off the bar

LINE-UP -- KIMBERLEY: Turner/Morley, Hogg, Dale, Stevenson, Middleton, Carlile, Simmons, Westcarr, Smith, Bailey. SUBS: Strode, Slade, Powell, Britton, Griggs, Moran, Hassall, Bodkin.

EASTWOOD: Walker/ Brooks, Thomas, Leeming, Short, Patterson, Conn, Smith R., Bettridge, Hallam, McDermott. SUBS: Smith J., Waplington, Allen H.