Festive Double Header Part One
Barrow 1-0 Stockport County: Hurst’s Heroics, the Brilliance of Baker and Festive Winter Hats.
Barrow skipper Phil Bolland headed home Richie Baker’s corner kick on 42nd minute to secure all three points for the Bluebirds over Stockport County.
In the first of two matches between Barrow and Stockport over Christmas and New Year, it was a tight affair which could have been won by either side.
Stockport came close to scoring from a corner kick when Andy Halls’ header was spectacularly cleared off the line by Baker on 25th minute.
Barrow pushed on to extend their lead in the second half, but County created a string of chances in the closing stages. Ryan Fraughan came closest to scoring for the away side in 74th minute but his shot from 12 yards out was saved by Barrow keeper Danny Hurst.
In this close contest, Barrow were the better side and move up to 10th in the Blue Square Bet Premier.
All the action and goal chances are in my full time report for The Bay.
Barrow joint manager Dave Bayliss said was delighted to pick up three points and secure an important victory in my post match interview recorded for the Bay’s Goalzone.
Dave Bayliss Interview - Barrow v Stockport by amyscarisbrick
Hurst’s Heroics
After Christmas dinner has been eaten and a few hangovers have kicked in, it seems there is no better way to spend Boxing Day than supporting your football team. The Boxing Day football fixture is always one of the most highly attended matches of the season and this game was no exception with over 2000 visiting the Furness Building Society Stadium.
After settling for 1-1 draw away at Hayes and Yeading last Saturday, Barrow managers Dave Bayliss and Darren Sheridan made two changes to the starting line up. Danny Hurst returns in goal after suffering from a groin injury, replacing Shaun Pearson. Richie Baker was selected in the centre of midfield ahead of Andy Ferrell in the Bluebirds’ 4-4-2 formation.
The action opened with a couple of tame headers from Barrow’s Andy Cook. The first from 6 yards out after the ball was delivered in by Paul Rutherford on 6th minute. Cook’s second chance was a header at the back post which he sent over the cross bar on 11th minute.
However, after Barrow’s early opportunities, Stockport started to build and came close to scoring. Ryan Fraughan curled a ball from the right of the box to Tom Elliott at the back post. The ball was just too high for Elliott to connect with, but it fell to Sean McConville who blasted his shot into the side netting.
As the half progressed, Barrow gained greater possession and created threatening goal scoring opportunities. James Owen’s shot from 20 yards out drifted narrowly wide of Stockport’s left post on 31st minute.
Moments later Paul Rutherford’s curling shot from 25 yards out was heading into the top left corner before it was pushed wide by County keeper Matt Glennon.
The pressure that Barrow placed on Stockport was evident as County manager Jim Gannon made a double substitution at half time.
Barrow continued to control the match with many chances to score a second goal. Andy Cook missed a golden opportunity when he was left unmarked in the penalty area, but scuffed his shot wide and twisted his ankle in the process.
Substitute Louis Almond picked out Adam Boyes who should have drilled a shot from 10 yards out. The striker seemed to lack confidence and his tame shot was deflected wide.
However, in the closing stages of the match, Stockport’s late chances to equalise were stopped by a brilliant performance from keeper Danny Hurst.
Hurst saved tricky long range shots from Sheridan and Fraughan’s 30 yard free kick that was heading into the bottom left corner. It was a commendable performance from the keeper in his first game back from injury and added another clean sheet in his fantastic debut season for the Bluebirds.
It wasn’t a polished performance from Barrow and securing a second goal would have eased County’s pressure on the defence in the final stages. Nevertheless, it was a strong and important victory to lift them into 10th in the league.
The Brilliance of Baker
The man of the match was Richie Baker. After a stunning performance along with the rest of the squad in Barrow’s FA Cup defeat to Rotherham, I think that Baker has recently had a quiet spell in the heart of midfield. Perhaps he has just gone unnoticed compared to James Owen’s recent good form.
But today Baker was certainly at his best, crucially stopping Stockport’s best scoring opportunity. Danny Hurst was clearly beaten by Andy Halls’ headed shot, but Baker’s headed clearance from the line was also a turning point in the match. The momentum shifted from Stockport into Barrow’s favour as Owen and Rutherford produced chances which led to Phil Bolland’s goal.
Baker was also a vital component in Barrow’s attacking force in the second half with a shot from 25 yards out that travelled narrowly over the crossbar.
In a scrappy match with many challenges flying in, Baker and Owen remained strong and creative in the centre of midfield, earning Barrow a hard fought victory.
Festive Winter Hats
As it was Christmas, I used one of my novelty presents to help me report on the festive football. For all of my radio reports for The Bay, I wore a koala bear hat with matching gloves. (Ok, a santa hat would have been more festive!)
As you would expect, I received a few strange looks from fans around the Furness Building Society Stadium and the press box, but it proved to be an amusing sideshow to the match. But I can safely say that the hat and gloves will not be returning until next Christmas.
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| Wearing a koala bear hat to keep warm at Barrow's Boxing Day match |
Before I sign out, a brief mention to everyone who works in the Barrow press box. There’s always lots of banter and like the fans, we experience every moment of Barrow’s season through all the highs, lows and stormy Tuesday night matches at Holker Street. Keep up the hard work!
All attention now focuses ahead of Part Two of this festive double header and whether Barrow can secure another victory over Stockport as they travel to Edgeley Park on New Year’s Day.
Barrow: Hurst Lomax Skelton Bolland (Capt) Hone Mackreth (Smith 87) Baker Owen Rutherford Cook (Almond 78) Boyes
Subs not used: Pearson Ferrell Rowe
Stockport County: Glennon Edwards Halls O’Donnell (Capt) (Rowe 46) Piergianni Connor Sheridan (Gritton 88) Holden Elliott Fraughan McConville (Cole 46)
Subs not used: Ormson Nolan
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