Walker second-attempt penalty header earns a well-deserved point

[Barrow Lad]

Barrow: Dixon, Sutton, Wilmer-Anderton, Livesey, Grand, Lacey, Harvey, Donohue, Cook, Tomlinson, Jordan Williams
68: Haworth replaced Donohue, Walker replaced Tomlinson

GOAL: Walker (penalty, 82)

Booked: Lacey (26, foul on Anderson); Harvey (28, foul on Anderson)

Bromley: Julian, Francis, Swaine, Holland, Anderson, Joseph-Dubois, Minshull, Fusieni, Gordon, Cunnington, Emmanuel
66: Dennis replaced Gordon
71: May replaced Cunnington
86: Goldberg replaced Emmanuel

GOAL: Cunnington (57)

Booked: Dennis (72, foul on Grand); Joseph-Dubois (89, foul on Harvey)

The sunny, Springlike afternoon brought out a 1,123 crowd including a fair number of “Bromley Geezers”. However, the match was a frustrating spectacle for Barrow who saw attacks thwarted by good defending or fouls.
In the 5th minute, a couple of Jordan Williams corner kicks saw blocks from Andy Cook headers and a Michael Donohue shot.

Three minutes later, a Dixon saved a 20 yard effort by Ali Fusieni. However, this would prove to be a rare first half foray by Bromley, who seemed content to foil Barrow and hope for a break. A long range Nick Wilmer-Anderton shot went just over the bar in the 14th minute and eight minutes later, a Williams inswinging corner grazed the bar.

Just before the half hour, Lacey and Harvey were booked in quick succession for fouls on Joe Anderson, who seemed to go down a little too easily for Barrow’s liking. Refereeing decisions seemed to disrupt the flow of the game and play into Bromley’s hands, the first half petering out with little of further note to report.

The second half was more interesting with Bromley sensing an opportunity to smash and grab, resulting in a more end-to-end contest.

Three minutes in, Alan Julian saved a close range effort from Simon Grand who tried a narrow angle from the left. However, in the 57th minute, Barrow appeared to be distracted by the controversial award of a free kick, and switched off to allow a break and Adam Cunnington to shoot past Dixon from the edge of the area.

Barrow plugged away and five minutes later, a Williams shot was deflected wide. In the 68th minute, Haworth and Walker replaced Donohue and Tomlinson. This double-substitution nearly paid dividends two minutes later when Cook headed wide from a Haworth cross.

Bromley then made their second change and a Joseph-Dubois shot from the edge of the area was saved by Dixon.

Back at the other end, in the 74th minute, another Williams shot was deflected just wide, as the game increased in intensity.

Two minutes later, Bromley earned their first corner of the game and a couple of Emmanuel shots went wide.

In the 81st minute, Jason Walker was pushed over in the area by Jack Holland. A clear penalty, and Walker stepped up to take the spot kick. His centrally-placed shot was first saved by Julian but then he followed up well by heading in the rebound for 1-1.

This was no more than Barrow deserved for their efforts but in the 86th minute, Bradley Goldberg replaced Emmanuel. Goldberg’s first touch was a close range goalbound shot which Dixon did well to punch round the bar for a corner.

After four minutes of added time, the draw seemed a fair result, keeping Barrow at 14th position in the league.

[Bluey VIII]

We might be a harder team to beat under Cox but by god we're horrible and frustrating to watch...

We only seem to have one game plan, hoof it up to Cooky! At times our formation is 8-0-2 as all the midfielders drop deep to focus on not conceding, then when we do win the ball back the only option is to hoof it up to Cooky!! Fair play to him for battling hard and making it as hard as possible for the opposing centre-halves but it's gotta be frustrating for the lad! After about the 6th or 7th hoof up to Cooky the opposition soon switch on to our tactics and clever experienced defenders have no problem dealing with it. The only time we seem to give teams a tougher challenge is when we change it and play a bit more football.

It's shame Cox insists on the 'Hoof it' strategy as we don't look a bad footballing side when we start to play more offensive and to feet..

The next few seasons under Cox might bring some success, but it's gonna be frustrating to watch as an entertainment spectacle..

Onwards and upwards...

[Wintergreen]

When I heard Harvey and Lacey announced in the line-up I knew what was to follow from our midfield maestros. Zidane and Deschamps they are not.

Which begs a question for the purist: Would you rather watch a decent footballing side who get nowhere or a Route One team who are relatively successful?

[Jim]

I am giving Mr Cox the benefit of the doubt, that he is playing to our current strengths and abilities. He has said that we need more guile in midfield. We have a defensive midfield and no playmaker. I hope and expect he will try to improve this in the summer.

I take heart from the fact that the Mansfield I remember had pacy wide men and tended to use them to break quickly from defence. I don't remember them being too much of an anti-football side.

[spirit of 1990]

It's shame Cox insists on the 'Hoof it' strategy as we don't look a bad footballing side when we start to play more offensive and to feet..

Agree with this. Even under Edmo at times we saw glimpses of decent football when played the ball on the deck. I wonder if that's when players weren't playing to orders?

I take heart from the fact that the Mansfield I remember had pacy wide men and tended to use them to break quickly from defence. I don't remember them being too much of an anti-football side.

I'm hoping the same Jim, I'd like to think that what we're getting at the moment is just survival stuff and he'll know what he wants & needs to bring in over the summer.
A Barrow version of Cox's successful Mansfield team will do me.....including the shed loads of goals they used to score.

[mickmike wilson]

I think we're all wishing for this for next season, will be an interesting closed season in the transfer market.

[Bluey VIII]

This season has a very familiar feeling.....similar to when Phil Wilson took over!! He too arrived waxing lyrical about how he just wanted to see the season out but knew exactly the type of player we needed and where he would get them in the close season! We all know how that worked out! OK, our budget wasn't as big back then so Wilson was probably never going to get who he really wanted, BUT are we an attractive proposition to a player in the national league?? I'm not sure we are but here's hoping!

[optomisticsupporter]

I think the thing I found most annoying was the constant long throw ins by Anderton obviously this was what he had been instructed to do, but surely using. Different tactic occasionally would have mixed it up a bit especially as Bromley had at lest 5 players at the back of 6 foot plus.

[Wildwolf]

I would like to see some variations utilised when taking corners. We are so predictable.

[chipmunx]

the Bromley number 11 looked a useful player - he got their goal, won just about every header in the 1st half and Cox seams to know him - he may be one for Cox's shopping list

[saltcellar]

I would like to see some variations utilised when taking corners. We are so predictable.

Corner kicks have definitely improved of late.
We look like scoring from nearly every corner at the moment.
It is throw in's were we are so predictable.
Every throw is either long down the line or into the penalty area.
This slows the game down.
We need more movement and variation.
Dixon is also predictable.
He always hangs onto the ball to long, allowing the opposition to get back in position before releasing the ball.
I would like to see him taking a few quicker kicks and also throw the ball out occasionally.

[Kieran]

This season has a very familiar feeling.....similar to when Phil Wilson took over!! He too arrived waxing lyrical about how he just wanted to see the season out but knew exactly the type of player we needed and where he would get them in the close season! We all know how that worked out! OK, our budget wasn't as big back then so Wilson was probably never going to get who he really wanted, BUT are we an attractive proposition to a player in the national league?? I'm not sure we are but here's hoping!

Yes, it worked out with promotion! Wilson may not have got the best out of them himself, but take Mark Boyd out of the equation and it was Wilson's team that Daz and Dave won the play-offs with.

[Big E]

It's shame Cox insists on the 'Hoof it' strategy as we don't look a bad footballing side when we start to play more offensive and to feet..

Agree with this. Even under Edmo at times we saw glimpses of decent football when played the ball on the deck. I wonder if that's when players weren't playing to orders?

I take heart from the fact that the Mansfield I remember had pacy wide men and tended to use them to break quickly from defence. I don't remember them being too much of an anti-football side.

I'm hoping the same Jim, I'd like to think that what we're getting at the moment is just survival stuff and he'll know what he wants & needs to bring in over the summer.
A Barrow version of Cox's successful Mansfield team will do me.....including the shed loads of goals they used to score.

Cox has cut out areas where we were making mistakes i.e. trying to play from the back and expecting our current midfield to control the ball and pass to a white shirt...

Until he is comfortable with players in there that can do that he won't change his tactics. It aint pretty at the moment, but unfair to judge our football at the moment, lets wait until this time next year when he has had a chance to bring his own players in (hopefully) over the summer and shape the team how he wants us to play. Not many teams pass their way up or out of this league playing nice football. The chance to play has to be grafted out. We are doing the grafting bit at the moment, but unfortunately we don't have the players to tackle the next bit.

[The Real Slim Azza]

Thing about Cox is. Hes won the league with a very decent side,a big budget, big fan base and a handy location to attract full time players toward.

Here its a little different. I don't understand why the mindset of most on here is that " well hes done it before so we will definitely be up there next year" . The transfer window that has just passed has showed us how hard it is to attract top players to the club. Without higher gates i can't see us being able to counteract our large spending on wages/ground improvements/ awful merch that isn't purchased.

It is possible we have the right manager with the right qualities , but if he doesnt have the things at hand that he had when he won the league with Mansfield then it'll be a tough job.

Do we just keep throwing money at it and let our Cox go wild ?

[Bluey VIII]

I don't understand why the mindset of most on here is that " well hes done it before so we will definitely be up there next year" .

That was the point I was making when I made the comparison to Phil Wilson. He too came with a track record of doing well in the non-league scene but, for whatever reason, he didn't cut the mustard.

Don't get me wrong, Cox's track record would say that he certainly needs to be given a chance but I have to say I'm somewhat disappointed with the style of football (if you can call it that) we're playing at the moment. I agree we needed shoring up and survival in this league was the number one priority, but he's changed almost the whole starting 11 without bringing in any proven quality at this level. Cox would no doubt argue that the player pool he's selecting from is relatively small and low-quality due to it being mid-season and you couldn't argue against that. Let's just hope he is able to put together a side similar to his Mansfield one next season, and things such as our Geography and facilities don't hinder his efforts.