Harrogate v Barrow match thread

[xerxes]

we still seem a little unsure at the back

But we are now the league's top scorers, which is encouraging.

[Kieran]

Incredibly frustrating, should've been out of sight by half time.

Don't think Edmo should've made so many changes, really don't get it. Still, might have taken a point before the game.

[dcarradus]

Got to be happy with a point against one of the top sides in this league now for a big crowd and result against chorley

[HenneysKnee]

So far on top in the first but just couldn't find the second goal we desperately needed. It was a strange line up (making so many changes) but it almost worked. Still not sure about the defence especially when Williams is in it

[A.B.]

Average performance really, kind of expected when so many changes are made. We should've been out of sight by half time, Cribley missed an open net! They play through one player, James Walshaw, he is absolutely immense at this level and will cause any team havoc. Good to see Cooky firing. Disappointed at Harrogate and Yorkshire police, won't be going there ever again.

Also, 120 away fans? I don't believe that for a second - more close to 200.

[Kendal_bluebird]

Totally agree I reckon the crowd was near enough split 50/50... Would like to see us back 4-4-2.. Missed alex rays energetic displays today! Cooks absolute machine man! He has incredible upper body strength! Him and walker are the pair I think. Wilson can't be so effective when coming on when players are tiring! Without walshaw harrogate are nothing. I was right behind his strike at the other end and it was a great finish.

[barrowaberdeen]

We're still a work in progress so it's a good point.

Cooky will get 30 goals this season, injuries permitting.

They weren't as bad as their recent form suggested, we just can't seem to get the rub of the green and kill teams off though.

Win on Monday and we are ticking along nicely though, much more to come.

Looking forward to visiting Solihull Moors and a less fraught afternoon than that turned into, it was an annoying trip to Harrogate last time as well.

[Si_Nichols]

A very long day having left my house at 0620 and got back around 2345 due to planned engineering works on the trains and ultimately disappointing not to have come home with 3 points as really they were there for the taking. Ultimately the 1 point might seem like a decent result come the end of the season but we have to start converting these away performances into wins.

The first half hour we were totally in charge and the game should have been dead and buried well before half time. The Harrogate defence was in tatters as they could not cope with the strength and pace of Cook and Wilson. Cribley's early missed chance was to prove vital after he did the hard work rounding the keeper but a powder-puff shot was easily cleared by a defender before crossing the line. Eventually the pressure told and Cook tucked away a very well taken chance with a hint of possible offside but would need to see the highlights to tell for sure. Cook and Wilson didn't really link that much throughout the game but were often left providing the width and the presence in the centre and so often were too far away from one another.

Then after the half hour and co-incidentally as the rain started to come down heavier we seemed to stop playing and retreated further and further back leaving a big open spaces between the midfield and forward and between the defence and the non-existent Sheridan and Lacey. The same pattern continued into the second half and Walshaw dropped into these pockets of space again and again as we failed to pick him up resulting in him causing havoc and having a hand in both of their goals. Other than a busting Wilson run through the Harrogate defence that resulted in the ball trickling onto the post we created nothing in this period and it wasn't until going behind that we seemed to be kicked back into action finishing the game stronger and Cook bagging another excellent goal.

I am not convinced I know what sort of shape we were trying to play yesterday - It seemed to be a hybrid of 5-3-2/4-4-2. Willis and Cowps seemed to get in each others way on the left side and the whole central defence seemed to be pulled over that way often leaving Burns with two men on the right side (which being Burns he coped with the majority of the time). Harrogate were poor apart from Walshaw and we failed to change anything to nullify his threat. He was a worthy MOTM especially after being concussed in the first half and returning with a bandaged head wound. Cook ran him close with another excellent display. Wilson was tremendous for the first half hour but fizzled out though had little service other than long punts forward for much of the game.

We lacked creativity with Lacey and Sheridan anonymous for a lot of the game and this central midfield area worries me still as although Harvey has turned in some reasonable displays we look light-weight and lack any sort of invention in there. This then exposes the central defence and Williams, whilst I like him as a person and can't fault his effort and passion, struggles unless played in a 3 man CD with two very competent others (i.e. Grand and Livesey) - otherwise he gets exposed and his mistake created the opportunity for Harrogate's second. Worth noting that Cook and Williams had to be separated by other players following a heated exchange after the goal. I was also disappointed with Edmo yesterday as it was clear that changes needed to be made to do something to stop Walshaw and he failed to respond which ultimately cost us.

Officiating was of a particularly poor standard with a lot of stuff going unpunished, in particular their number 8 went in with about half a dozen two footed lunges. Being kind to him the ref was clearly not the most streamlined figure (though I can hardly criticise him for that) but he and his assistants were possibly equally poor for both sides in the decisions they made. As to the police and stewarding I am not sure I can really pass much comment as I didn't see much of what supposedly went on.

Onwards and upwards and hopefully 3 points on Monday.

[32mile_cul-de-sac]

a point away from home is always a decent result especially against one of your closest rivals. Now lets see what Chorley think of the Holker Street roar!!!!!

[bigcod123]

looking forward to the chorley match..lets hope there is a big crowd and a nice, convincing victory

[bobbie moore]

Agree re midfield being our poorest area ,we never controlled it any part of yesterdays game.
There definitely was too many changes to the team yesterday and although DE did say that ALL players would be involved over these two games ,not sure this was way to do it.
We most definitely are lacking a class ball playing/controlling player in midfield.
Hope we play our strongest staring eleven against Chorley and use the subs to best advantage.
Happy with a point but as said elsewhere it could,should have been three

[K-Man]

Like others I didn't understand all the changes Edmo made. I get the idea and reasoning of using all the #lads over the bank holiday weekend but play our full strength in the first game get the win and make changes for Monday accordingly. Reid,Pilks and Harvey should have started and I think Walker should have came on a bit earlier. Cribbley missed an absolute sitter of an open goal after good work. Cooks a beast.

[HenneysKnee]

As mentioned above Cooky will score for fun this season, far too good for this league now

[jimboc90]

we were shit in defence,again,nuff said