Holker Street Newsletter 4 - 14th October 1997

A couple of things for you today, another match report for the Frickley game (thanks to Graham Murphy for that), some tit bits of news, some rearranged fixtures and the draw for the Fourth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup. Whilst I realise Barrow are out, I thought you might be interested anyway.


MATCH REPORT-BARROW v FRICKLEY 11/10/97

Although Barrow were well on top in the first half, and were unlucky with shots hitting the woodwork and being cleared off the line, the two goals they did get were somewhat fortunate. O'Keefe's was a weak shot along the ground from 20 yards which the goalie didn't move to. It bobbled three feet to his left while he stood rooted to the spot with his arms out. Perhaps he thought it was going wide. I reckon if that goalie had tried to put his head in his hands he'd have missed. The foul on O'Keefe that led to the penalty was for holding. The defender prevented O'Keefe from jumping for the ball by putting his arms over O'Keefe's shoulders. Everyday stuff in the life of a defender, really. Play continued for half a minute before the referee gave the penalty.

The second half degenerated into an unattractive, scrappy affair as Frickley tried to strong-arm it. They succeeded in knocking Barrow off their stride and some players just gave up, Morton in particular. The crowd gave the players a lot of stick for their inability to get back into the game. I've never seen a crowd so disgusted by the team's performance when we've ended up with the three points. There was no applause at the end. I don't think Owen Brown's tactics help. Jimmy Brown was asked to play behind the front two (Morton and Coates) in the first half.

Although I wouldn't have thought he suited this role, Barrow dominated the game with this formation. Later on, O'Keefe took the role behind the front-runners and Brown dropped back. He wasn't sure where to play in relation to Bauress and Barrow's midfield just disappeared. Prior cannot duplicate the injured McAuley's role as an attacking No. 2, but he was asked to play there nonetheless. Robertson was superb in this position on the left. Higgins and Jones both had a dismal second half in defence, though I feel this was because they had too much to do, with Frickley's players being allowed to run unimpeded through Barrow's midfield time after time. And were it not for two superb reaction saves by Farrelly, Frickley may well have sneaked a win. The ref was abysmal. I believe he's a banker (useful profession, where would we be without them - Ed).


NEWS
A friend in Barrow has supplied some info on the reserves team, as you might remember it was announced that the reserves would be scrapped, but they are now back in operation as the club would have to pay a UKP2000 fine if they pulled out of the League and failed to fulfil their fixtures.

Eddie Kennedy who played for Barrow some years ago, and know plays here in New Zealand for Napier City Rovers, is in Barrow on holiday at the moment, and is playing for Glaxo to maintain his match fitness.

You may be surprised to read there is a considerable link between New Zealand and Barrow AFC, much more than I ever realised when I first came out here. As well as Eddie Kennedy, there have been other players who have turned out for both sides, Phil Jackson being one. I'll speak to John Simmonds at Napier City Rovers this week and try to get the full list off him.

On top of that, Barrow had a New Zealand lad, Scott Smith playing for them in the pre-season match against Dundee. And Neil Morton spent a year out here playing for Claudeland Rovers, who have since merged with Waikato to form Melville. If anyone on this list bumps into Neil Morton, can you say Roger Wilkinson (who was the Claudeland Rovers coach) was asking after him.

BTW, there are a couple of bits and bobs you might be interested in, if you go to the Unofficial Altrincham home page: freespace.virgin.net/gary.warrington/index.htm, there are a number of useful links including one to an Altrincham email newsgroup, there's also a football forecasting competition being run off that site, which I'm winning at the moment, but I wouldn't dream of mentioning it, and a link to the UniBond League Newsgroup run through the ISFA site.


REARRANGED FIXTURES
28/10 Home to Lancaster in the Second Round of the UniBond League Cup, I assume we had a bye in the First Round.
6/12 Home to Leigh RMI (used to be Horwich RMI) in the League
13/12 Home to Winsford in the League
25/4/98 Home to Hyde in the League

If you want a full list of fixtures go to the Barrow home page, or email me.


FA CUP FOURTH ROUND QUALIFYING DRAW
Southern Section: Billericay Town v Camberley Town, Tiverton Town v Sudbury Town, Staines Town v Margate, Basingstoke Town or Calne Town v Braintree Town, Bognor Regis Town or Croydon v Farnborough Town, Rushden & Diamonds v Boreham Wood, Yeovil Town v Hayes, St Albans City v Hendon, Heybridge Swifts v Ashford Town, Cheltenham Town v Sutton United, Bromsgrove Rovers v Romford, King's Lynn v Salisbury City, Gloucester City v Wisbech Town, Enfield v Carshalton Athletic, Slough Town v Kingstonian, Sittingbourne v Hereford United.

Northern Section: Gainsborough Trinity v Halifax Town, Runcorn v Marine or Lincoln United, Hinckley United v Colwyn Bay, Halesowen Town or Redditch United v Northwich Victoria, Ilkeston Town v Hyde United, Blyth Spartans v Kidderminster Harriers, Nuneaton Borough v Emley, Winsford United or Arnold Town v Penrith, Southport v NORTH FERRIBY UNITED, Stalybridge Celtic v Solihull Borough, Knypersley Victoria v Boston United, Altrincham v Morecambe

Matches to be played Saturday, October 25

Right that's all I have for you today, don't forget what I mentioned in the previous emails about helping out the club if you can by taking part in the pitch sponsorship scheme, or by joining the Supporters' Club.

As well as that if anyone has any news, contact me and I'll pass it on. Also if any of your friends are on email and don't receive this, please pass on their email address to me.