Late Harrison goal rescues unlikely point against bottom-placed Torquay

[Barrow Lad]

Barrow: Moore, Barthram, Jones, Dunne, Diarra, Thompson, Bauress, Hall, Gomis, Yussuf, Harrison
36: Panayiotou replaced Yussuf (injured)
51: Bignot replaced Barthram (injured)
66: White replaced Gomis

GOAL: Harrison (90+2)

Booked: Diarra (69, foul on Evans)

Torquay United: Dorel, Efete, McGinty, Gowling, Young, Pittman, Evans, Anderson, Reid, Gray, Dowling
17: Keating replaced Dowling (injured)
Half time: Myrie-William replaced Pittman

GOAL: Reid (5)

Booked: Myrie-William (74, diving)

On paper, a sunny afternoon should have been made even brighter by 3 points against a team who had accumulated only 3 points from 10 games and conceded 23 goals, 5 more than anyone else. However an out-of-sorts Barrow team have only themselves to blame for what should have been a defeat, a late Harrison goal rescuing an unlikely point. The 49 supporters who travelled the long distance from Devon must have been gutted by the late turn of events, although the 1,141 Barrow contingent would argue it at least made up for our similar experience at Tranmere last Saturday.

Torquay started brightly and did not let Barrow settle. A misjudged ball back from Dunne panicked Moore into a quick clearance into the path of the Torquay attackers, James Gray shooting past him from the right edge of the area only 4 minutes 20 seconds into the game for 0-1. Three minutes later, Moore was at full stretch to save a shot from Jamie Reid.

Quarter of an hour in, Barrow won their first corner but, played short by Jones, it proved to be a wasted opportunity. Ruari Keating then came on for the injured George Dowling and, seconds later, only a well-timed tackle in the area by Moussa Diarra prevented Michee Efete from a close range strike on goal.

A very long throw by Jones into the area twenty minutes in saw Dorel save a close range header from Dunne, a rare chance for Barrow as Torquay continued to boss the game.

Ten minutes before half time, an injured Yussuf went off to be replaced by Panayiotou. The visitors kept pressing and a Young corner was first cleared by Jones, Evans then testing Moore with a shot from outside the area.

Barrow had a couple of efforts late on in the half. In the 43rd minute, a Jones cross gave Harrison the chance of a close range header but he was just too late to connect. In added time, a long range Jones free kick was punched away by Dorel.

At half time, Myrie-William replaced Pittman for Torquay and five minutes later, Barrow replaced an injured Jack Barthram with Paul Bignot. Just before the hour, things looked at little more promising for the Bluebirds with a Bignot cross requiring a save and Harrison heading over from a Jones throw.

However, on the hour, Michee Efete was allowed to run virtually the full length of the field, giving Jamie Reid a shot on goal which brought an outstanding save from Stuart Moore.

In the 66th minute, Jordan White came on for Bedsente Gomis and three minutes later, Moussa Diarra was yellow carded for a badly timed tackle on Callum Evans. Five minutes later, Myrie-William was booked for diving after receiving a ball into the area from Young.

In the 76th minute, Keating headed wide from a Young corner, the best chances on goal having fallen to Torquay.

Dorel had to save a free kick from Jones in the 80th minute as Barrow tried hard to rescue a point. Jones then had another shot saved; although a poor team performance overall, his efforts on goal were enough to earn him a Man of the Match award.

It was Byron Harrison however who would save at least some of Barrow’s blushes in the second minute of added time. Torquay allowed a ball from Paul Bignot to reach Harrison who calmly stroked the ball past Dorel for an unlikely late equaliser, keeping the Bluebirds in 18th place.

Apologies but I will be away for Barrow’s next home tie against Maidstone United on 30th September, when you will find out if I am the jinx!

[andyg]

Can't believe crowd was 1,141. I was doing a rough count!!! And I thought it was around 900!!! How sad am I!

[Barrow Lad]

It was 1,190 as you have to add the 49 Torquay fans!

[andyg]

Mmmmmm I only counted 35 of them - but some were probably sitting in the stand

[bigmac95]

Can't believe crowd was 1,141. I was doing a rough count!!! And I thought it was around 900!!! How sad am I!

You roughly counted to 900? Christ it most have been a shocker

[whitty1969]

Mmmmmm I only counted 35 of them - but some were probably sitting in the stand

Definitely worth £18 to get in..... if the football is shite, just count the crowd.....

[andyg]

Passes the time

[Soulboy]

Club claiming more fans in?
The ground looked sparse.
X bar queue less.
No programmes.
No football.
Been going many years.....they're weren't that crowd in today