Out-of-sorts Bluebirds crash 1-2 to bottom-placed Solihull Moors

[Barrow Lad]

Barrow: Dixon, Barthram, MacDonald, Dunne, Diarra, White, Hall, Gomis, Holt, Harrison, Jones
67: Yussuf replaced Harrison
76: Makoma replaced Jones
85: Panayiotou replaced White

GOAL: Hall (55)

Booked: Dixon (14, foul on Osborne)

Solihull Moors: O’Leary, Green, Carter, Murombedzi, Reckord, Green, Carline, Daly, Kelleher, Osborne, Thomas
90+2: Bowen replaced Murombedzi

GOALS: Carter (57), Reckord (84, penalty)

Booked: Osborne (62)

An out-of-sorts Barrow struggled against bottom of the table Solihull Moors to make it two months and five matches without a home win. Only two home goals have been scored since Adi Yussuf’s hat-trick against Aldershot on 28th October. Today’s goal was nullified within two minutes and a rejuvenated Solihull won an 84th minute penalty to seal the victory.

It might have been different had we continued as we started. In the 3rd minute, the Moors goal was under siege as an Asa Hall shot was first parried and then Jordan White headed over from close range.

Our defensive frailties today began in the 14th minute when, following a ball forward by James Reckord, Jamey Osborne had the goal in his sights. Joel Dixon miskicked and then brought down Osborne. To the relief of the Barrow fans, especially with no keeper on the bench, there were defenders in front of goal and the card was yellow. Darren Carter’s free kick was headed out for a corner which was fortunately well defended.

In the 18th minute, Barrow were again on the attack. Following a good tackle to gain possession, Bedsente Gomis threaded the ball through to Grant Holt in the area. Holt’s legs were clipped but no penalty awarded.

Six minutes later, a Holt cross was headed out for a corner but Jack Barthram’s kick came to nothing.

Although a shot from range by Carter went wide of the left post in the 33rd minute, Barrow appeared to have regained control of proceedings. Two minutes later, an Osborne foul on Gomis brought a 25 yard free power kick from Dan Jones which was well saved by Max O’Leary. A fast run down the left by Jones won another corner, but again this set piece disappointed.

Despite a further corner, this time from Jones, three minutes before the break, the score remained a frustrating 0-0.

Right from the restart an opportunistic long range shot caught Dixon off his line; to his relief the ball ended up on the roof of the net. Less than two minutes into the second half, following a foul on Gomis, Jones had a chance on goal with a 20 yard free kick but his effort sailed well over.

In the 55th minute, Barrow finally made the breakthrough as a long throw from Jones was headed in by Hall. Unfortunately, this good work was undone 90 seconds later as a quick Moors attack appeared to take us by surprise, Darren Carter firing in from the left past Dixon.

In the 63rd minute, after Osborne was booked for a foul, a Jones free kick from near the half way line was headed powerfully by Jimmy Dunne into the arms of O’Leary. Soon after, Adi Yussuf replaced Byron Harrison, his 70th minute cross being deflected for a corner.

The replacement of Dan Jones (by Donovan Makoma) in the 76th minute led to many scratching their heads as Barrow’s No.3 had been one of the better players, at least providing a threat with throws and set pieces. Seconds later, a long ball by Paul Green resulted in a close range shot which tested Dixon.

By now, there was a fresh confidence in Moors, their flowing attacks contrasting with Barrow’s failure to keep possession. Sensing the game was now there for the taking, they pressed forward. A James Rekord free kick in the 81st minute was dealt with, but two minutes later, a move down the right eluded Barrow’s defence. Osborne advanced from the corner and, once in the area, was brought down by a mistimed challenge from Moussa Diarra. Reckord’s spot kick was fired into the right side, giving Dixon no chance.

Harry Panayiotou then replaced Jordan White for Barrow’s final change with Moors’ original eleven still on the pitch. In the 89th minute, a ball forward by Dunne saw Yussuf fire the ball along the goalline from the left- but no-one could oblige with the touch to send it over the line.

In the third minute of added time, a final chance came for Barrow with a free kick from Gomis- but to no avail. The elated cheers from the 26 Moors supporters, contrasted with the stony silence and boos from the remaining 1,289 home contingent who expected three points to let the New Year in. History tells us a different story with a long unwanted tradition of home losses against bottom teams. Barrow v Bath City in 2011 springs to mind but let’s hope this is only a blip and that 2018 sees us moving up the table rather than back into the drop zone.

[boyliegladbach]

Out of sorts. Bit more polite phrase than ide have used.

[orpheus]

Don't often need to use disgraceful on here but that it what this Referee was. Same disgraceful Ref as V Macc . Mind you, Barrow were way behind on everything including guile. Dixon is goddam awful. He is not quick enough on disrepution to catch a cold