Magnificent Barrow performance overpowers leaders Lincoln for second time this season

[Barrow Lad]

Barrow: Flatt, Beeley, Anderton, Livesey, Diarra, Wright, Harvey, Turnbull, Bennett, Harrison, Williams
35: Hughes replaced Harrison
89: Hannah replaced Williams

GOALS: Harrison (9), Bennett (60), Hannah (90+1, penalty)

Booked: Bennett (37, foul on Raggett); Turnbull (74)

Lincoln City: Farman, Wood, Long, Waterfall, Power, Rhead, Hawkridge, Raggett, Arnold, Woodyard, Robinson
55: Whitehouse replaced Power
58: Ward replaced Hawkridge
70: Marriott replaced Rhead

Booked: Rhead (68), Raggett (75), Whitehouse (77)

Barrow achieved the double over league leaders Lincoln City with a superb inspired performance that suggest we may have turned the corner after the recent dip in form. After 5 minutes of Lincoln pressure at the start, Barrow dominated the game, going for every ball, while denying Lincoln chances on goal through sheer hard graft in defence.

In front of the TV cameras and a 1,152 crowd (including 124 Lincoln fans), Barrow raised their game in much the same way as Lincoln raised theirs when they knocked Championship side Ipswich out of the FA Cup last week. Even three substitutes could not power past the Bluebirds’ determination to win this game.

Early pressure saw Lincoln win the first corner in the 5th minute but Nathan Arnold’s kick did not result in the early breakthrough the visitors were seeing- but spurred Barrow on to take the lead four minutes later. A foul by Sean Raggett on Richie Bennett gave Paul Turnbull a free kick near the half way line. Turnbull despatched the ball into the area to Byron Harrison who fired past Paul Farman for the opener.

On the quarter hour a good Bennett cross was punched out by Farman as the Bluebirds continued in attacking mode. In the 23rd minute a Williams cross was blocked on the line.

A 25 yard free kick by Terry Hawkridge in the 26th minute was punched away by Jon Flatt but at this time goalscorer Byron Harrison was injured in a collision and finally limped off in the 35th minute to be replaced by Liam Hughes.

Barrow pressed on valiantly through to the 5 minutes of added time, a Hughes shot being the final action of the half.

The second half was more or the same, Barrow resuming on the front foot rather than sitting back to allow Lincoln a foothold in the game.

Four minutes in, Alan Power fouled Alex-Ray Harvey, Turnbull’s first free kick resulting in another foul on Hughes and a second kick from 25 yards which hit the Lincoln wall.

Alex Woodyard then won a Lincoln corner, but Arnold’s kick was headed over. The Imps then tried making chances, replacing Power and Hawkridge with Elliot Whitehouse and Joe Ward by the 58th minute.

However, a couple of minutes after the second change, Barrow made it 2-0. Great attacking play saw a Turnbull shot blocked, then coming back out. Turnbull won the ball back with a superb towering header to Richie Bennett who blasted the ball into the net.

Although the travelling fans were in fine voice, the Barrow fans were also galvanised by the vastly improved performance and in turn spurred the team on to not only protect the lead but go in search of a third.

In the 69th minute, a good cross by Harvey was headed wide from close range by Moussa Diarra. Adam Marriott then came on for Matt Rhead, who had just been booked, for a final throw of the dice.

A short period of Lincoln pressure followed. In the 74th minute, Turnbull was booked for a foul near the edge of the area but Marriott’s potentially dangerous free kick was well blocked.

Raggett and Whitehouse were then booked for the visitors as frustration started to tell, two Lincoln corners being dealt with by sound defensive work.

We continued to mount attacks, another build up by Harvey and the industrious Wright resulting in a blocked shot from Bennett.

A telling cross by substitute Joe Ward in the 84th minute was well saved by Jon Flatt and two minutes later at the other end, a Jordan Williams shot was deflected out for a Turnbull corner, played short to keep possession.

At this time Williams was receiving treatment in the box and was replaced in the 89th minute by Ross Hannah. A minute later, Barrow were awarded a penalty for an infringement in the area and Hannah’s first job was to confidently despatch the ball past Harman for 3-0.

Bennett was awarded Man of the Match but all the team deserved a medal tonight for a fine committed display which erases the woes of the last three league games and gives renewed confidence for the game at Holker Street against second placed Forest Green on Saturday. Barrow climb to 5th on goal difference- thanks lads for a memorable and entertaining night.

[extrover]

A good report Barrow Lad. That was the game I was at tonight. Full marks to both teams but I am very proud of my Barrow scarf. Great entertainment / bad for the old ticker!!

[Steelworks End]

Your first paragraph says it all, Barrow Lad; a superb inspired performance.

After watching the match on TV a good 300 miles away from Holker Street, reading your report proves that I hadn't dozed off in front of the fire and dreamt it all.