Holker Street Newsletter 1288 - 25th March 2004

On the subject of how long Mark Salmon will be suspended for the red card he was awarded against Whitby Town earlier in the week, there is no news yet on whether it will be one game or more, a little bird has told me that the disciplinary notices will be received from the Football Association early next week, so we won't have to wait too long. I think it's fair to say that Salmon's actions couldn't be described as violent play as the Whitby attacker has admitted that Salmon did not touch him and that he slipped! It should also be remembered that Steve Housham was suspended for an extra game when he received his second red card of the season, but as Salmon's actions weren't violent conduct, this time the suspension may be seen in a different light.


CHRISTIAN LEE
Last week it was mentioned that the club had shown an interest in Halifax player Christian Lee who's a 6ft 2in forward. Lee still has a year of his contract to run at Halifax but Barrow could get the player signed in time to play at Holker Street for Saturday's game against leaders Hucknall Town. Halifax have given permission for Lee Turnbull to speak with the player and the chances of him signing are regarded as 50/50. The deal hinges on whether the club's board decide if we can afford him but if they say yes then its quite likely he'll sign and go straight into the squad for Saturdays game.

BARROW RESERVES
On Tuesday night Barrow Reserves played away at Chester Reserves and gained an excellent 2-2 draw against one of the Lancashire League's leading sides. The following report was posted on the Barrow AFC site at www.barrowfc.com/cowps by Stu:

Last night at Flint, Barrow 's young squad fought back to earn a great 3-3 draw against Conference club Chester City reserves side which had Justin Jackson (ex Doncaster Rovers and Morecambe) leading their attack. Andy Knott opened the scoring for Barrow on 22 minutes with a header that looped over the Chester keeper from a well taken corner by Guy Heffernan. Mike Fidler had earlier earned the corner as Barrow set out to hustle and harry an experienced Chester side which also had ventre in midfield. Knott turned villain when he failed to cut out a cross from the left a minute before half time and Chester bundled the ball in to make it 1-1. On the hour, Chester took the lead with a well placed shot across Ross into the right hand corner.

Barrow were back on level terms within two minutes as Mike Fidler scored after a great through ball by Simpson, Mike rounded the keeper and placed the ball into an empty net. Chester scored a third on 72 minutes, but Mike Fiddler gained his second goal on 75 minutes, beating two Chester defenders, cutting in and sending a low 18 yard shot which powered in by the keeper's near post. Fidler has now scored six goals in the last three games, and his tally for the season is 18. On 80 minutes, Macdonald was harshly judged to have felled a Chester forward in the penalty box, it looked to be on the edge of the area, but Ross Liddicott made a great save diving to his right. In the last minute Macca headed off the line to set up another Barrow attack which nearly resulted in a winner.

The man of the match award went to the whole team for a fighting performance, star in defence was Capstick, and Burgess in midfield. Barrow's two strikers, Mike Kewley and Mike Fidler have scored 44 goals between them this season.


UNIBOND PREMIER DIVISION
Whitby Town 0 Hucknall Town 0 (224)

1 Hucknall Town 36 26 5 5 73 30 83
2 Droylsden 37 22 5 10 80 56 71
3 Alfreton Town 36 20 5 11 64 37 65
4 BARROW 36 18 11 7 69 45 65
5 Southport 38 18 8 12 61 44 62
6 Harrogate Town 36 19 5 12 57 46 62
7 Worksop Town 34 16 11 7 54 35 59
8 Lancaster City 36 16 6 14 55 47 54
9 Altrincham 35 13 13 9 54 37 52
10 Stalybridge Celtic 35 15 7 13 55 48 52
11 Ashton United 35 15 6 14 48 63 51
12 Gainsborough Trinity 36 13 10 13 60 46 49
13 Vauxhall Motors 36 13 8 15 63 67 47
14 Whitby Town 36 12 9 15 47 59 45
15 Runcorn FC Halton 34 11 10 13 47 52 43
16 Marine 34 12 5 17 53 63 41
17 Radcliffe Borough 37 12 5 20 68 83 41
18 Bradford Park Ave. 35 9 10 16 42 56 37
19 Spennymoor United 36 11 4 21 43 81 37
20 Frickley Athletic 37 10 6 21 45 72 36
21 Blyth Spartans 34 9 8 17 46 55 35
22 Burscough 39 7 13 19 41 65 34
23 Wakefield & Emley 36 7 6 23 36 74 27

UniBond Cheshire Cup Final :Witton Albion 1 Woodley Sports 2 (aet)


BBC NEWS REPORT
Cameroon Goalkeeper Signs For Stalybridge: Stalybridge Celtic have signed Cameroonian goalkeeper Jean-Paul Ndjebayi, who has been released by Mossley at his own request after being left out of the side for the game at Atherton Collieries. Ndjebayi is 23 years old and was previously with Port FC (Cameroon), Gonyela SK (Cyprus), Roda JC (Holland) and Oryx de Douala (Cameroon). He has been signed as cover by the Bower Fold club and could well get his chance before the end of the season. Regular number one Craig Dootson had surgery on a hernia problem on Monday and is out for the season. Former Vauxhall Motors' number one Andy Ralph is impressing while on loan from Conference strugglers Northwich Victoria but could be recalled by Vics' boss Shaun Teale, after the UniBond signing deadline. Vics are believed to have fitness problems with their two keepers at the moment. Celtic boss Dave Miller did not want to be left without cover and signed Ndjebayi ahead of Saturday's game with Blyth Spartans. He has trained at Bower Fold for the past two weeks.


BARROW RUGBY LEAGUE
Our oval ball cousins haven't had an up-to-date website for some time now, but no there is somewhere on the web where you can find their results: http://groups.msn.com/BarrowRLSupporters/_whatsnew.msnw


LOOK BACK AT SEASON 1980-81
From Terry Kendall

February 18 1981, Frickley Athletic 5 Barrow 0
So-bad Barrow's worst of season.
Frickley: Meehan, Long, Reed, Burgin, B. Gill, Whiteley, M. Gill, Smith, Woodhall, Wadsworth, Howey. Sub: Brown.
Barrow: Thomas, Richmond, Knowles, Gordon, Brooks (Phillips), Taylor, Eatough, Whittle, Pearson, Towers, Worswick.
Goals: David Smith (2), Martin Gill (2), Barry Gill. No goal times.
Ref: A. Porter (Bolton). H/t: 2-0. Att: 538


ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY - 25 March
1922 D3N Tranmere Rovers H W 2-0
1932 D3N Hartlepools United A W 2-0
1933 D3N Hartlepools United H W 3-1
1939 D3N Southport H W 4-0
1950 D3N Bradford City H W 1-0
1961 D4 Carlisle United H L 0-2
1966 D4 Rochdale A L 0-4
1967 D4 Barnsley H W 2-0
1972 D4 Chester H W 2-0
1989 NPL Bangor City H W 1-0
1995 NPL Emley A L 1-2
1996 NPL Winsford United A L 3-4
2000 NPL Whitby Town H L 0-3
2003 NPL Hucknall Town A W 3-0 (att 199)