Barrow grind out victory over the Shots to maintain three point lead at the top

[Barrow Lad New]

Barrow: Dixon, Brough, Hird, Rooney, Quigley, Hardcastle, Kay, Platt, White, Angus, Barry
76: Dyson replaced Hardcastle
83: Hindle replaced Angus
87: Harrison replaced Quigley

Booked: Barry (34, foul on Powell)

GOAL: Angus (22)

Aldershot Town: Mitch Walker, Tinkler, Kinsella, Rance, Anderson, Panayiotou, Whittingham, Finney, Lewis Walker, Hunt, Powell
63: Mullings replaced Walker
72: Santos replaced Hunt (injured)
83: Eyoma replaced Panayiotou

Booked: Finney (28, foul on Quigley)

Barrow matched the wins of Bromley and Woking (who both came from behind) and Yeovil to retain a three point lead at the top of the National League with a game in hand. It should have been more comfortable, given much superior possession in the first half and a good number of half chances. However, in the end the Bluebirds deservedly ground out the win, gained through Angus’s first half conversion from a Hardcastle free kick.

We had a number of close opportunities early on. In the 9th minute Mitch Walker saved a shot from Lewis Hardcastle. Aldershot had a penalty appeal turned down as Lewis Walker went down in the area following a challenge by Matt Platt. Back at the other end, following a foul on Josh Kay, a John Rooney free kick was tipped over the bar by Walker for a corner.

In the 17th minute Scott Quigley was tripped near the edge of the box in a goalscoring position from a Brad Barry throw. Rooney’s free kick was again punched over by Walker.

Five minutes later Barrow found the back of the net after Max Hunt fouled Dior Angus on the right edge of the box. This time, Hardcastle provided a low cross which Rooney powered goalwards, Angus getting the final touch.

Aldershot tried an immediate response. After being gifted the ball, Dean Rance put Lewis Walker through on goal but Dixon saved the shot. Barrow then resumed the onslaught as Walker blocked a close range Angus effort. The Shots’ Finney and then Brad Barry were booked either side of the half hour. Between the yellows, Walker saved from Hardcastle and Quigley shot, the later a low shot just reached at full stretch.

Despite Barrow corners in added time, the narrow 1-0 lead remained and, in the second half, the visitors sensed they could smash and grab a result, the game becoming more open and end-to-end.

However, the first chance of the second half fell to Barrow when, only three minutes in, Josh Kay blasted over from close range.

In the 54th minute, an Aldershot corner was headed over. However, on the hour a close range Rooney shot was blocked which fired a quick Shots counter. Max Hunt grabbed the ball from Hardcastle and set up Lewis Walker for a run on goal, Dixon doing extremely well to save from close range.

Walker was then replaced by Mullings and, in the 66th minute, we missed a glorious opportunity to extend the lead, an excellent cross from Quigley being skied over the bar from close range by Kay.

Santos then came on for the injured Hunt, while for Barrow, Dyson replaced Hardcastle. Quick Barrow attacks then saw shots from Angus and Quigley blocked.

In the 83rd minute, Eyoma replaced ex-Bluebird Harry Panayiotou as Hindle came on for Angus, Harrison then replacing Quigley.

The attendance of 2,024 including 65 visiting fans was announced, lower than the last home games, but still encouraging given the poor weather and time of year.

Five minutes of added time was announced, Tom White gaining Barrow’s man of the match. In the fourth of these, Walker saved at the feet of Hindle and then saved another Rooney shot.

At full time it remained 1-0 with crowd and players celebrating the consolidation of our pole position. Great stuff lads!

[Cubbins Paratrooper]

Thanks, Sass.

[Robbo_SAFC]

Very impressive, do you all think you're at the top to stay?

We will be 1 league apart next season.

[Lancaster Branch]

Very impressive, do you all think you're at the top to stay?

We will be 1 league apart next season.

We’ll just keep going and see where we get to.

Just looking at the L1 form guide...Are you sure you’ll stop up?

[Robbo_SAFC]

Very impressive, do you all think you're at the top to stay?

We will be 1 league apart next season.

We’ll just keep going and see where we get to.

Just looking at the L1 form guide...Are you sure you’ll stop up?

Good point

Maybe if we get that knacker out (who should never have been appointed in the first place) and then our players (who have more than enough talent to compete in League One) start to play we'll be ok

[Shot By Both Sides]

he attendance of 2,024 including 65 visiting fans was announced

75 visiting fans if you please.

[Barrow Lad New]

he attendance of 2,024 including 65 visiting fans was announced

75 visiting fans if you please.

Sorry- must have misheard over the noise of the crowd!

[Shot By Both Sides]

75 visiting fans if you please.

Sorry- must have misheard over the noise of the crowd!

Hehe some of us reckoned it was more than the 75... desperate times, these!

[Alley_Cat]

Any link to the post match interview?