Barrow AFC.net

3400 ish was the official attendance I think and many speculating that it was actually higher than that.

The official attendance was 3418, with 921 from Guiseley.
Chorley match report, which mentions that Chorley's Harry Winter was shown a red card after the final whistle.
Guiseley reaction, includes individual audio links to post match interviews with players (inc. Drench and Boyes) and also the Chorley manager Garry Flitcroft.

The late header from Flynn(?) certainly looked very close to being over the line!

Bristol Rovers won't be making the trip up here after they beat Grimsby on penalties.

Anyone watch it and get a feel for the level and the tempo? It looks a big step up- A lot of big strong players out there.

Yeah I watched it, wasnt anything particularly special. Bristol dominated the game after Grimsby broke and scored. Both teams i thought tried to counter and were quick at it.

Mackreth for me did nothing

Jameston1 wrote:Yeah I watched it, wasnt anything particularly special. Bristol dominated the game after Grimsby broke and scored. Both teams i thought tried to counter and were quick at it.

Mackreth for me did nothing

I agree - neither side looked anything special, although Rovers had a couple of useful looking midfielders who could move the ball fast. The final ball was often poor, especially from Jack Mack. He looks very much like he did for us once he'd been found out - undeniably rapid but ineffective. Lennel John-Lewis (AKA "The Shop") is a dangerous lad up front for the Mariners. Interestingly, Grimsby lobbed it long up to him quite a lot....hmmmm.

Jonty wrote:Anyone watch it and get a feel for the level and the tempo? It looks a big step up- A lot of big strong players out there.

It is a big step up. The Conf North/South teams that try to stay up without spending almost all come straight back down. Some (Eastleigh for instance) realise the difference and spend a lot of money to bridge the gap. There a bigger difference between Conf North/South and Conf Prem than there is between Conf Prem and Division 2. Of course, you have to have the money to be able to strengthen but, luckily, Barrow have an owner with some money.

An owner with less money than he thinks he has thanks to a certain Mr Reid bidding on an auction item on his behalf at the dinner last night. I wonder when he is going to tell him about that.

russell_anderson wrote:

Jonty wrote:Anyone watch it and get a feel for the level and the tempo? It looks a big step up- A lot of big strong players out there.

It is a big step up. The Conf North/South teams that try to stay up without spending almost all come straight back down. Some (Eastleigh for instance) realise the difference and spend a lot of money to bridge the gap. There a bigger difference between Conf North/South and Conf Prem than there is between Conf Prem and Division 2. Of course, you have to have the money to be able to strengthen but, luckily, Barrow have an owner with some money.

There hasn't been much between top end of conference prem and division 2 for a good few years. Promotion teams do reasonably well in div2.

When we came down 2 seasons ago it was like being on another planet. Having been at the national level for 5 years I'd almost forgot how different the game was at this level. Gone were the neat passers of the ball the better finishers and the pace felt no one was getting out of first gear by comparison. I've only seen a couple of national games since we came down and the only difference seemed to be the pace of movement and the accuracy of the front men, will be interesting to see how most of the teams we left behind a few years ago have held up. We do need to bring in a few players to increase the standard across the board in order to have a decent season or we could struggle for large periods.

i have watched most of the conference games on b.t. last season and i think we are getting unduly alarmed over the standard of this league i think with a few additions we will easily finish in the top half!
Don`t forger grand,livesey,cook,walker,reid,howarth,arh and pilkington have allplayed at this level or above!

We could do with some pace

blue nige wrote:i have watched most of the conference games on b.t. last season and i think we are getting unduly alarmed over the standard of this league i think with a few additions we will easily finish in the top half!
Don`t forger grand,livesey,cook,walker,reid,howarth,arh and pilkington have allplayed at this level or above!

Don't think anyone getting unduly alarmed, it is just unlikely that we will be in the top half of the table unless we strengthen. A lot of the players we have released have played in the leagues above but were only good enough for Conference North, they need to be replaced to make up a starting 11 and provide good enough cover or we will struggle.