Holker Street Newsletter 742 - 3rd January 2001

It’s back, and almost raring to go, as you can imagine there is a raft of information to catch up on since the last edition of the Newsletter, so we are in catch up mode, quite a bit has happened in the last fortnight or so, some good: the results, some bad: saying goodbye to Chilton and Waller. I hope to have some thoughts on these matters for tomorrow’s editions and the promised pieces on the Under-18s and Asda. More news tomorrow.

Thanks to Peter Caldwell, Geoff Northin, Flag Man, Ken Bryant, Bob Steed, Phil Yelland, Tommy Cockles, Sharkey, Jim Whitton, Martin Roberts, Stephen Mulrine, Richard Ingham, the Alty web site, Old Barrovian, Flag Man and Terry Kendall for their help with today’s edition.

LOWE LOOKS TO SWOOP FOR MYSTERY DEFENDER
Evening Mail, Wednesday 20 December

Kenny Lowe is looking to strengthen his Barrow AFC squad by signing another defender before Saturday’s trip to Burscough. The Bluebirds chief has refused to reveal the player’s identity, but he is hopeful of a deal going through before the end of the week, and if that happens he will join an experienced Barrow rearguard that includes Lee Rogers, Lee Warren, Micky Waller, Mark Hume and Scott Maxfield. Meanwhile, AFC boss Lowe has ruled out any immediate plans to start changing his squad in the wake of Saturday’s defeat at home to Bishop Auckland. At the weekend Barrow produced one of their worst performances of the season as they were hammered 4-1 in the League, but Lowe said today: "Seven or eight days ago everyone was euphoric after we played against Emley when we did superb, then all of a sudden we played badly against Bishop Auckland." But despite the reversal, Lowe assured fans there would be no knee jerk reaction to it. Lowe was speaking after yet another UniBond League Cup fixture was postponed because of bad weather. His team were due to play Gretna at home last night, but the game was halted when a heavy afternoon downpour made the Holker Street pitch unplayable. That was Barrow’s fifth successive postponement in the competition because of the weather after earlier games against Lancaster (twice), Gretna and Workington also bit the bullet. Lowe said: "We can’t do anything about it. It’s the same for all teams." The Barrow boss has also dismissed reports linking AFC coach Tony Chilton with a move to UniBond Division One outfit Gretna. Chilton was rumoured to be wanted by the Scottish club in a coaching capacity, but Lowe denied that saying he knew nothing of the alleged approach. Barrow have been drawn at home to Nationwide Conference club Southport in the Marsden Trophy. The game will be played on Tuesday January 9.

DOUBLE BLOW
Injured Anthony and Ellison to miss Christmas fixtures
By Neil Lauderdale, Evening Mail, Thursday 21 December

Kenny Lowe is set to he without two of his key players for the entire Christmas period because of injuries to Graham Anthony and Lee Ellison. The Barrow boss will again be without midfielder Anthony at the weekend as the player is still recovering from a broken nose. The former Carlisle United man picked up the injury at the start of the month when at work and now he has been ruled out for another three weeks. The break has forced the 25-year-old to miss the Bluebirds’ UniBond Premier League games away at Emley and last Saturday’s disappointing defeat at home to Bishop Auckland. Now he is set to miss the entire Christmas period starting with the game at Burscough on Saturday, as well as home and away matches with Lancaster and the visit of Frickley Athletic. Lowe said today: "Graham has just had his nose reset so he’s going to be out for another three weeks." Fortunately Lowe has been able to call upon Jason Ainsley in recent weeks with the former Gateshead player deputising in the centre of midfield. Utility player Andy Hill was also recalled from a loan spell with UniBond Division One outfit Workington Town by Lowe to provide extra cover. However, the Bluebirds chief has been struck by another injury blow with the news that striker Lee Ellison could also be sidelined for the next three weeks. Ellison limped out of the 4-1 defeat against Bishop Auckland after only 19 minutes after picking up a hamstring injury. "Lee has pulled his hamstring so he’s going to be out for possibly two to three weeks," Lowe added. His replacement on Saturday was Darren Roberts, the loan signing from Exeter City who arrived at Holker Street in November, and now he will be given the chance to start in attack alongside AFC's top scorer Nicky Peverell. Roberts, who scored Barrow’s only goal against Bishop Auckland, has yet to really establish himself for the Bluebirds, and Lowe said: "He’s a proven, quality footballer, although he has not proved it with us yet. He’s got three weeks to prove himself now and I think he does need to show a few people." Meanwhile, Lowe has said he is looking forward to the clash with Conference side Southport in the Marsden Trophy on January 9. The Bluebirds are at home for the clash with Mark Wright’s team and Lowe said: "It’s a good draw and we should get a few through the gates."

TAYLOR KEEN ON BRIAN
Ex-FA chief places AFC chairman in country's top 10
By Neil Lauderdale, Evening Mail Friday 22 December
(Ralph’s note: This is an interesting one, the headline in the Mail refers to Taylor, perhaps they were thinking of Graham Taylor, the former England manager, but the article refers to Graham Kelly, the former chairman of the FA, either way it’s a hell of an accolade, and one that is richly deserved.)

Barrow AFC’s Brian Keen is one of the country’s top 10 football chairmen, according to Graham Kelly. The former chief executive of the Football Association made the remark when he appeared on BBC Radio Five Live. The station had a national phone-in yesterday for soccer fans on what they thought made a good football club chairman. Kelly was a guest on the show and as well as offering his opinions on what he thought the right ingredients were for a successful chairman, he also named his top 10 for the whole country, and surprisingly Keen’s name was ranked in his list alongside people like Peter Risdsale, the millionaire chairman of Premiership giants Leeds United. Kelly explained his reasons for including Keen in the list by saying he had done a remarkable job at Barrow after the club had been dumped out of the Conference and then threatened with extinction, and he said last night: "He worked hard to save Barrow Football Club and from what I can see it was largely down to him and a few others that the club survived. I feel he deserved to be up there with some of the more higher profile names. A chairman needs to have a love of the club and of love of its community and Brian has that." Keen, who never heard the radio phone-in himself, was delighted to be named alongside the big guns of the Premiership, and he said today: "You can’t believe it really, can you? I think that’s reward for everybody in Barrow that has fought to get the team back. It’s very good to get a compliment from a figure of such high authority. That’s what we want, plenty of good PR, and coming from Graham Kelly, who knows his stuff. I’m just looking to the future now and I don’t think we’re that far away now. The biggest problem at the moment is the gates and the weather and like many clubs we are cash strapped." He added: "Thank you very much Mr Kelly and I hope we can achieve what you expect." Keen took his post as chairman at Barrow early last year when a new consortium took over the club after the departure of Steven Vaughan. They formed a new club, Barrow AFC (1999) when the old one went into liquidation. When the Bluebirds were thrown out of the Nationwide Conference at the end of the 1998/1999 season, Keen and co. successfully fought for AFC’s entry into the UniBond Premier Division despite widespread objections, receiving support from Taylor and the FA. A Londoner, Keen moved to the area in 1967 and it was shortly afterwards that he began taking his seat at Holker Street as a fan to watch the Bluebirds.

BLUEBIRDS LOOK FOR FESTIVE CHEER
Evening Mail, Friday 22 December

Barrow will look to shake off the disappointment of last Saturday’s defeat against Bishop Auckland with a win at Burscough tomorrow. AFC manager Kenny Lowe was highly critical of himself following his side’s humiliating 4-1 defeat at Holker Street last week, but now he is looking to his players to give Barrow’s fans an early Christmas present and start the festive period as they mean to go on. Just two days after the trip to Merseyside, Lowe’s team travel to Lancaster City for a Boxing Day showdown, a week tomorrow they’re at home to Frickley Athletic and then they entertain City again on New Year’s Day. The Bluebirds chief was so disappointed with last Saturday’s showing because it came on the back of a battling 0-0 draw at UniBond Premier League leaders Emley, and he said last night: "It does not matter who we play. It’s a big game after what happened against Bishop Auckland. There’s questions that need to be asked about certain people and not just on the playing side, but the management team as well. He also added: "I don’t know what to expect of my own team at the moment. They have got a lot of questions to answer, my side. We have got two to three weeks to address the situation from Saturday and to get ourselves up the League. They are more than capable of that. It’s not a case of proving people wrong, it’s a case of proving people right." Barrow will again be without midfielder Graham Anthony tomorrow as the player is still recovering from a broken nose Forward Lee Ellison also misses out because of a hamstring strain, as does Troy Bennett, who has a long term knee injury. Barrow also have doubts over Steve Housham, who is suffering from a hamstring problem. Lowe had hoped to restore some confidence to his team with a win against Gretna in the UniBond League Cup on Tuesday night, but the game was postponed because the Holker Street pitch was deemed unplayable after more heavy rain, and the AFC boss said: "At the end of the day it can become a farce when yo play games in those conditions. I think they would have been more suited to the conditions and the heavy pitch to get among us." When the two sides met earlier in the season Barrow allowed Burscough to get back into the game after cruising into a 2-0 lead. With just ten minutes left on the clock Lowe watched in horror as his team let slip their advantage to gift John Davison’s side a point.

Barrow: Bishop, Warren, Hume, Maxfield, Waller, Rogers, Bullimore, Ainsley, Housham, Doherty, Hill, McKechnie, Peverell, Roberts.

YOUTH POLICY PAYING OFF FOR BURSCOUGH
Evening Mail, Friday 22 December

Barrow AFC could face a young-looking side when they run out at Burscough tomorrow. The Merseyside outfit have a strong youth set-up and manager John Davison hasn’t been afraid to blood the players in his senior team. So far this season Davison has given no fewer than six starts to the young players and his decision appears to be paying off. Already he has called upon the services of Lee McEvilly, Steve Leahy, Marvin Molyneux, John Lawless, Karl Clark, and Matt Taylor, and their performances in a Burscough shirt have been so impressive that a number of Premiership clubs have begun to show an interest. At the moment his side are comfortably placed in seventh position in the UniBond League Premier Division table and they have as many as five games in hand over some of the leading teams. They have taken 30 points from their 17 games, with nine wins, five defeats and three draws, and in Robbie Talbot they have one of the League’s most prolific marksman with the player having found the back of the net 19 times already this season. Like Barrow, Davison’s team have had their fair share of postponed matches this season and last week their game at Gateshead was called off because of a frozen pitch.

Burscough (probable): Taylor, Hanson, Clandon, Farrell, Bowen, McMullen, Lawless, Stanton, Talbot, Wilde, Birch, Nolan, Knowles, Leahy.

PEV LEAVES IT LATE FOR BLUEBIRDS
Burscough 1 Barrow AFC 2
Evening Mail, Wednesday 27 December

A Nicky Peverell brace gave Barrow the ideal start to the festive campaign as the Bluebirds came back from a goal down to take the points at Victory Park on Saturday. The visitors had to battle hard against the youthful home outfit who opted for a very direct style of play. The game’s turning point came, as it did in the corresponding game at Holker Street, when the home side, already in the lead, missed a penalty in the second half. Barrow levelled soon afterwards and although both sides could have won it after that, it was manager Kenny Lowe’s outfit that finally claimed the vital goal two minutes from time. The Cumbrians dominated early on as Darren Roberts fed Peverell, whose shot was saved by home keeper Matt Taylor, recently a target for scouts from Manchester United. Robbie Talbot, by far Burscough’s biggest threat throughout the game had a couple of shots saved, but it was really against the run of play that the Linnets took the lead after 13 minutes. Talbot’s cross found Lee McEvilly looking yards offside. The flag stayed down but he managed only to hit the post with his six-yard header. Luck was again on his side though as the rebound came straight to him and he hooked the ball into the top corner. Burscough were buoyed by the goal and Talbot and Ray Birch went close. Mike McKechnie’s fierce 20-yard drive was Barrow’s only reply at this stage. Barrow came out a different side but could have gone two down when Lee Warren brought down Andy Howard to give the home side a spot kick. Talbot’s effort though was high, wide and not very handsome! Confidence is all in football and Barrow received a bucketful following that miss. For once Lady Luck had turned round to help them and more good fortune followed when after Peverell had put a header just over from a Lee Rogers punt, Wayne Bullimore’s sliced 20 yard shot fed Peverell with the simplest of six yard tap ins to tie the game. Burscough’s best chance to win it came when a route-one ball caught out Mark Hume allowing Talbot clear two-on-one. Instead of squaring to Howard though, Talbot went alone and hit the bar with his shot. In the eighty-eighth minute, Wayne Bullimore’s corner saw Hume hit the bar with a header but Peverell was on hand to head home the decider from six yards - his seventeenth goal of the season.

Shots on target: Burscough 5. Barrow 10
Shots off target: Burscough 2. Barrow 5.
Corners: Burscough: 3 Barrow: 10
Free kicks: Burscough 11 Barrow 9
Off sides: Burscough 3 Barrow 2
Yellow card: Burscough: Farrell and Howard
Red card: None

Barrow: Simon Bishop 8, Lee Rogers 7, Scott Maxfield 8, Mark Hume 6, Micky Waller 6, Lee Warren 7, Mike McKechnie 7, Darren Roberts 7, Nicky Peverell *8*, Wayne Bullimore 7, Jason Ainsley 8. Subs: Neil Doherty for McKechnie 59; Steve Housham for Wayne Bullimore 90. Andy Hill (unused).
Burscough: Taylor; Hanson; Clandon; Bowen (Howard 54); Farrell; McMullen; Stanton; McEvilly; Wilde; Talbot; Birch (Knowles 76). Sub not used: Hatton.
Referee: Mr L Higgins (Manchester)
Attendance: 333.

BURSCOUGH 1 BARROW 2
By Stan Strickland, The Non-League Paper, 24 December

This was a game that could have gone either way with both sides having periods of ascendancy during what proved a thrilling encounter. It was the home side who had the better of the first half with Lee McEvilly heading against the post after 12 minutes before collect the rebound to fire high into the net. McKechnie brought a fine save out of Taylor as Barrow replied, but it took an even more impressive full length save from Bishop at the other end to prevent Talbot adding a second for Burscough. As the home side finished the half strongly, Ray Birch's volley clipped the top of the crossbar with Bishop stranded off his line.

Twelve minutes into the second half Burscough should have extended their lead after Andy Howard was brought down in the area, but Talbot fired the spot kick high and wide. The visitors were now enjoying the larger share of play with Peverell heading only inches over on 62 minutes but within a minute Barrow were level as a misdirected Wayne Bullimore cross was diverted into the net by Peverell. Talbot hit the bar for Burscough as the game continued to ebb and flow but it was the Cumbrian side who finally claimed the points with a winner two minutes from time as Peverell headed home a right wing cross after his first effort had come back off the bar.

AFC HIT THE BULL'S EYE
Inspirational midfielder pledges his future to the Bluebirds
Lancaster City 1 Barrow AFC 1
By Neil Lauderdale, Evening Mail, Wednesday 27 December

Barrow’s star midfielder Wayne Bullimore gave Kenny Lowe the perfect Christmas present when he agreed to stay at the club for another 18 months. The news comes on the back of a fantastic festive period that saw the Bluebirds win at Burscough and draw with Lancaster City yesterday. Former Manchester United trainee Bullimore had been courted by Nationwide Conference high-fliers Southport over the last month, but the player ended all transfer speculation when he committed himself to Holker Street for the remainder of this season and next. At one point AFC boss Lowe appeared resigned to losing the creative midfielder, but now he is delighted to have secured the player’s services. Lowe said today: "That’s a fantastic statement for the club and that’s the biggest Christmas present I’ve had. It gives everyone a buzz. He loves the club and all the other little add ons that come with it. He likes playing in front of the crowds, he likes the set-up and he’s very well thought of." Sadly, Bullimore was forced to sit out the Boxing Day clash with Lancaster after picking up a knee injury in the game with Bishop Auckland last weekend. Lowe said he did not want to risk the player on the hard, frozen surface at the Giant Axe ground and instead opted to play Jason Ainsley and Mike McKechnie in midfield. The game should have given Barrow their second successive win in the space of three days, but a late penalty robbed them of all three points. Jason Roberts had opened the scoring for the visitors in the 76th minute only for Chris Ward to equalise from the spot following Lee Warren’s handball. "We just dominated the game," Lowe added. "We restricted them to one shot and they scored. They are playing very well at the moment and I was speaking to Tony (Hesketh, City’s manager and former Barrow AFC boss) before the game and he said they are probably playing the best since he’d been at the club. It was a hard game and we did very well in the conditions." But Lowe said: "The lads were disappointed when they came off. They came in and were a bit flat as they thought they deserved to get a bit more out of the game." Lowe gave a debut to new signing Anthony Hall, who joined the club from Gateshead just before yesterday’s kick-off. The player slotted straight into the back three alongside Mark Hume and Warren. "He’s a super addition to our squad," Lowe said. Days earlier the Barrow boss watched his side bounce back from their 4-1 defeat against Bishop Auckland with a 2-1 win at Burscough. Both goals came from AFC’s top scorer Nicky Peverell who took his tally to 17 for the season.

LAST GASP PEN DENIES BATTLING AFC
Christmas smiles as brilliant Barrow pick up four points on their travels at Burscough and Lancaster
By Special Correspondent, Evening Mail, Wednesday 27 December

A penalty equaliser six minutes from time robbed Barrow of three precious points in this Boxing Day derby. Darren Roberts’ 76th minute strike looked destined to secure the win until referee John Carter judged that Lee Warren had used an arm to block a header from City midfielder Dean Martin and pointed to the spot. Simon Bishop guessed correctly which way Lancaster’s teenager striker Chris Ward would hit the resulting spot-kick, but he couldn’t get a hand on the ball as it squeezed in at the foot of the right hand post. A draw was just about the right result on an afternoon where the only real winner was the conditions, the frozen bobbly pitch defeating all attempts to play passing football and contributing to a scrappy encounter. The home side had the best early opportunity when Ward glanced a header wide from Brian Butler’s 24th minute cross, but a minute later it was Barrow who went closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half, Scott Maxfield delivering a perfect free kick and debutante Anthony Hall’s header deflecting off Paul Haddow and against the crossbar.

CITY'S BARREN DAY AS BARROW GRAB POINT
From the Lancaster Visitor, 27 December

After the storm, the calm. City's bludgeoning demolition of Gainsborough gave way to a punch-shy Boxing Day derby stalemate at a frozen Giant Axe on Tuesday. The main culprit was a bone hard and bobble-infested pitch which made the sort of fluent, passing football which bamboozled Gainsborough three days earlier an unrealistic prospect, and against a big and pacey Barrow side City will feel quite content with a hard earned point. Chris Ward snatched a share of the spoils with six minutes remaining, his seventeenth goal of the season coming from the penalty spot after Lee Warren handled a Dean Martin header. Ward squeezed the spot-kick between keeper Simon Bishop's outstretched arm and the inside of the right hand post. It was a justifiable end to a match which neither side deserved to lose, but in which neither had enough of the play to suggest dominance. City opened brightly, Ward glancing a header wide of the mark after Brian Butler picked him out with a fine cross in the fourteenth minute, but it was the visitors from the other side of Morecambe Bay who went closest to breaking the deadlock in a scrappy first half.

Scott Maxfield's perfectly flighted free kick was headed goalwards by Anthony Hall, only for the ball to take a slight deflection off Paul Haddow en route, enough to see it cannon off the crossbar and away to safety. Before the break Ward was again presented with an opportunity - eerily similar to that from which he scored the winner on Saturday - when Brown cleverly found him standing 10 yards out with a neat pull back. On Saturday the net was bulging before the keeper had time to move, this time Simon Bishop was able to stand and watch the shot arching high over his crossbar. Mark Thornley - who started the season with an unhappy stint at Barrow - silenced the boo boys on the hour with a fine point blank save to deny Darren Roberts, but he was powerless to prevent the same player giving the visitors the lead in the 76th minute. A huge ball upfield by Lee Rogers fell invitingly for Roberts on the edge of the area, the former Wolves, Darlington and Exeter front man taking one touch before lifting an inch-perfect lob over the advancing Thornley, but City were not about to let their recent run of form slip away without a fight, and the move which resulted in the penalty bore all the hallmarks of the dogged determination which has characterised recent performances. A deflected shot was rolling out for a City corner but Ward was alert to the possibilities if he could keep the ball alive, chasing down into the corner to retrieve and as the Barrow defence were caught napping, had enough time to turn and pick out Dean Martin with a measured cross. Martin's header had power and accuracy, Lee Warren's arm denied us the chance to see how close it would have been. Ward's penalty silenced the large travelling contingent in the biggest crowd of the season at Giant Axe and no-one could complain about the result. Hardly a classic to end 2000's home fixtures, but worthy enough to suggest City will continue to be a tough nut to crack on home turf.

City star : Mr Versatile, Kenny Mayers has slotted into a central defensive position in the last few games and looks as strong and as willing as ever.

Thornley 7, Sparrow 7, Graham 6, L Clitheroe 6, Haddow 7, Mayers 7, Martin 6, Butler 6, Ward 6, Brown 7, Potts 6. Subs not used : S Clitheroe, Cartridge, Dickinson. Booked : Potts
Bishop 6, Hall 6, Maxfield 6, Rogers 7, Warren 7, McKechnie 7, Ainsley 6, Peverell 7, Roberts 7, Doherty 7. Subs not used : Waller, Bullimore, Hill. Booked : Peverell
Referee : J Carter (Sunderland)
Attendance : 737
Entertainment Value : ***
Fouls Committed: Lancaster City 12 Barrow 20
Corners: 3/3
Caught Offside: 1/8
Shots Off Target: 7/2
Shots on Target: 2/5

AFC HOPE TO BEAT FREEZE
Evening Mail, Thursday 28 December

Barrow AFC boss Kenny Lowe is hoping this weekend’s fixtures beat the weather so his team can build on their two match unbeaten run. His side are due to face lowly Frickley Athletic this Saturday and Lancaster City on New Year’s Day with both games scheduled to take place at Holker Street, but overnight snow in the Furness area, which came on the back of several days of heavy frost, may have thrown the games into doubt. Barrow have already taken four points out of six in their opening two matches of the festive period, with a 2-1 win at Burscough on Saturday followed by a 1-1 draw at Lancaster on Boxing Day. Both impressive results came after Bluebirds chief Lowe questioned his players and his own management style following a humiliating 4-1 defeat at home to Bishop Auckland, but having got the right response on the pitch he is now desperate to keep that run going and to see his side continue their march up the UniBond Premier table. Lowe said today: "I’m just worried about these games. It’s a big, big weekend for us, but it’s okay us saying it’s going to be all right down here but they (Frickley) may have trouble travelling down." Frickley have been the League’s whipping boys this season, so Lowe should be expecting to pick up maximum points on Saturday, and if they can grab a win on January 1, or at least a point against Tony Hesketh’s Lancaster side, then Barrow’s path into the top six should become clearer. At the moment they are tenth in the table, but another four points over the weekend should move then closer to the leading pack, and because Barrow’s League campaign has been plagued by bad weather and hampered by FA Cup involvement, Lowe’s team still have as many as four games in hand over some of the top sides.

AFC today appealed to fans to turn up with a shovel this afternoon and tomorrow to help clear the pitch and the terracing ahead of the scheduled games. Any fans who wish to get an update on this week end’s fixtures can call the Barrow soccer hotline on 09066 555 820.

FREEZE THREATENS AFC DOUBLE HEADER
Evening Mail, Friday 29 December

Snow and ice have thrown Barrow AFC’s New Year fixture programme into total chaos. AFC’s scheduled UniBond Premier League home game against Frickley Athletic tomorrow is now subject to a pitch inspection at 3pm today, and the New Year’s Day derby against Lancaster City is also in doubt after a combination of heavy snow and frost over the past few days left the Holker Street surface rock hard. AFC director Phil Cowing said today that it is 'extremely doubtful' that the Frickley game will be played, but he is urging supporters to buy their tickets for the game tomorrow even if it is called off, because that will help raise some vital funds for cash-strapped AFC. Then, when the game does eventually go ahead some time before the end of the season, those fans who have paid up in advance will have free admission. The Bluebirds traditionally rely on their Christmas and New Year home matches to give them a much-needed cash injection. Cowing said: "What we are asking supporters to do is help us out a bit with the cash flow by buying their tickets for the Frickley game tomorrow in advance. That will allow us to get some money up front and when the Frickley game comes along they will get free admission. We are opening the Crossbar tomorrow, whether the game is on or off, where supporters will be able to buy the tickets for the game. The Boxing Day and New Year games traditionally attract two of our highest gates of the season and with us having only played nine home League games in five months, it is a bit of a problem." He added: "It’s looking extremely doubtful for tomorrow. There’s three inches of snow on the pitch and it’s rock hard underneath. The forecast is not good, and it’s not going to change much so I think the chances of us playing are pretty slim. I don’t think it’s looking too good for the New Year’s Day game against Lancaster either, so we’re going to have a bit of a cash flow problem." The Crossbar will open at 1pm and there will also be special price drinks and a quiz with prizes starting at 3pm: The quiz will be UKP1 entry with the subject being Barrow AFC’s non-League days. We are urging supporters to ring the Barrow Soccer Hotline to find out if the game is on or off," said Cowing. "The Soccer Shop is unmanned and the club phone will be tied up with us informing officials about the match." Fans can call the Soccer Hotline on 09066 555 820. If tomorrow’s game does go ahead Kenny Lowe is expecting to pick up another three points when his side face lowly Frickley. The Yorkshire outfit are second from bottom in the UniBond Premier League table with only Spennymoor United below them. In 19 games Athletic have taken just 10 points, with two victories and four draws to their name all season.

Barrow, on the other hand, are beginning to move back up the table with only one defeat in their last four games, that coming against Bishop Auckland. Before that they drew 0-0 away to League leaders Emley, while last Saturday they won 2-1 at Burscough and later claimed a point at Lancaster in a 1-1 draw on Boxing Day, and tomorrow Barrow boss Lowe expects his team to add to their Christmas points’ tally with victory over Steve Richards’ side. The Bluebirds chief said: "They are at the bottom of the League, and they are well down there. We have got to win these games, get the points and get up the table, but it’s going to be hard because every game in this League is hard." The last time Barrow played at home in the League was when they lost 4-1 to Bishop Auckland so Lowe is desperate for his players to put on a show at Holker Street and banish the memory of that defeat. "I’m fed up of saying that we have got to do it at home, but I think we have done really well in the last few games to be truthful," said Lowe.

Barrow: Bishop, Hall, Maxfield, Rogers, Waller, Hill, Warren, Bullimore, McKechnie, Ainsley, Peverell, Roberts, Doherty, Lowe or Housham.
Frickley (probable): Carney, Hilton, Lafferty, Jones, West, Hanby, Lewis, Price, Duffty, Hirst, Edge, Cranson, Wilkinson, McAreavey.

BULLY FOR US
My heart belongs to Barrow says midfield playmaker
Reports by Neil Lauderdale, Evening Mail, Friday 29 December

Barrow midfielder Wayne Bullimore has admitted that he never once thought about leaving the club, despite interest from Southport. The former Manchester United trainee had been the subject of transfer interest from the Nationwide Conference club in the last month, but this week the player committed himself to Holker Street for another 18 months to end any speculation of him quitting the Bluebirds. At one point Barrow manager Kenny Lowe looked set to lose his prized jewel when the lure of Conference football came along, but Bullimore said last night: "I wanted to stay all along basically. At first it turned my head a little bit but I have got a lot of friends at Barrow. It’s a good club and I feel with Kenny and Lee (Turnbull, AFC’s assistant manager) there it will go forward, and it’s a Conference club really." Had Bullimore decided to leave Barrow and head to high-flying Southport then he would have teamed up with ex-Liverpool and England defender Mark Wright, who is now in charge of the Sandgrounders, and former AFC midfielder Mike Marsh, but although the Mansfield-born player was flattered by Wright’s interest he never really saw his future outside of Holker Street. He said: "It’s (Barrow) got good support and I get on with everybody at the club from the board, the management and the players. The supporters are fantastic, they really are. Players come and go, managers come and go, but it is the supporters who are always there. There are a lot of people who care for the club and they are the people that turn up and watch UniBond football and it will be great for us to get into the Conference for those supporters. I can say honestly that I never came close to leaving. Like I said, it did turn my head at first, the thought of Conference football, but there’s too much to throw away by jumping ship and Barrow is just as good a club as Southport anyway. It’s always good to feel wanted and they (Southport) put a lot of effort in trying to sign me, but it was nice that Barrow weren’t prepared to let me just walk away." Bullimore missed the 1-1 draw at Lancaster City on Boxing Day because of a knee injury, but he expects to be fit for tomorrow’s match at Holker Street with Frickley, if it goes ahead, and he hopes that a win and another three points on New Year’s Day against Lancaster will push his team up the table. However, he said: "We have underachieved massively this season. We all know that with the players we have got."

BULLY BEAUT SEES AFC
Inspirational midfielder scores with 25 yard drive to make sure Bluebirds earn a point against Lancaster at Holker Street
Evening Mail, Tuesday 2 January

A Wayne Bullimore equaliser from long range gave Barrow a share of the spoils in this New Year's Day derby with Lancaster City. The midfielder earned the Bluebirds a point when he smashed the ball home from all of 25 yards past the despairing dive of former AFC keeper Mark Thornley. Bullimore's sweet left foot strike came with just over 20 minutes left on the referee's watch and it gave Barrow their second draw with Lancaster in the space of seven days. When the two sides met on Boxing Day at the Giant Axe ground the score finished 1-1 after a late penalty robbed Kenny Lowe's side of all three points, but at Holker Street yesterday it was Barrow who came from behind to leave the UniBond League Premier Division clash all square. The game had been in doubt all weekend after snow and a heavy frost left the home surface virtually unplayable which led to Barrow's home match against Frickley on Saturday being postponed. However, thanks to the magnificent efforts of the club's ground staff and their volunteers, not to mention the overnight rain and rise in temperature, the pitch was deemed fit enough to stage the match. Although in hindsight the game should probably have been postponed, such were the horrendous conditions under foot endured by both sets of players. Barrow boss Lowe, who was without Mark Hume through suspension following his sending off against Bishop Auckland, gave new signing Anthony Hall his home debut in defence. Bullimore came back into the centre of midfield after he missed the last game against City because of a knee injury. Steve Housham wasn't passed fit enough for a place in the starting line-up because of a hamstring pull so he was on the bench, as was Graham Anthony, who is just returning after breaking his nose.

However, with Troy Bennett, Lee Ellison, Steve Gill and Andy Hill all absent Lowe was forced to name himself as the third substitute. His side couldn't have asked for a better start after Mike McKechnie put them one up after just four minutes with his first goal of the season. Nicky Peverell, who received the ball on the left hand edge of the City penalty area after a searching pass from Bullimore, squared to Darren Roberts. The on-loan striker from Exeter City then saw his shot parried by Thornley, but thankfully the ball fell into the path of McKechnie who slotted home through a crowd of players. Sadly, that lead was to last just over 10 minutes as a lack of marking gifted Lee Clitheroe an easy chance from just outside the six yard area. City forward Chris Ward, who caused Barrow problems all afternoon with his pace, skipped over the challenge of Lee Warren before looking up to see his team-mate in space, and when he crossed Barrow's defenders failed to check Clitheroe's run as the midfielder ghosted into the box to smash home, giving AFC keeper Simon Bishop no chance. Then, with only 18 minutes on the clock City took the lead from the penalty spot after Barrow defender Lee Rogers appeared to push Ward in the area. The referee pointed to the spot straight away and there was no way Barrow could have any complaints. Ward then picked himself up and coolly slotted home, although Bishop could count himself unlucky having got a hand to it after guessing the right way.

From that point on Lancaster took control of the match as their direct style of play seemed more suited to the heavy conditions than Barrow's passing game, and more often than not they were caught on the break as City's breakaway football left Lowe's team exposed down both flanks with Scott Maxfield and McKechnie regularly stretched. In the second half though it was Barrow who looked the better side as Roberts, Peverell and Hall were all denied certain goals by Thornley's brilliance in nets. Thornley started the season as a Barrow player, but he left the club to rejoin City after losing his place in goal to Paul Heritage. Fortunately though for Barrow he couldn't do anything to stop Bullimore's spectacular 69th minute equaliser that came just when City appeared to be heading for all three points. Bullimore's speculative drive came just a week after the player pledged his future to Holker Street for the next 18 months after rejecting the advances of Conference side Southport, and the goal gave Barrow a deserved point which capped off a relatively successful festive period that saw them claim two draws and one win.

SIMON BISHOP: 7 Could do little about both Lancaster’s goals.
ANTHONY HALL: 7 Looking like a good acquisition to the Barrow squad.
SCOTT MAXFIELD: 7 Had a poor first half but improved in the second 45.
LEE WARREN: 7 Reasonably solid throughout, but like AFC’s other defenders guilty of gifting the opposition too much space.
LEE ROGERS: 7 Clumsy challenge to give away penalty but otherwise very composed at the back.
JASON AINSLEY: 7 Grafted hard in the centre of midfield.
MIKE McKECHNIE: 6 Grabbed opening goal, but was muscled out of possession too often.
DARREN ROBERTS: 7 Involved in most of Barrow’s attacks.
NICKY PEVERELL: 6 A quiet game from Barrow’s top scorer. Should have scored.
WAYNE BULLIMORE: *8* Very influential performance capped off with a great goal.
NEIL DOHERTY: 7 Was prepared to mix his silky skills with strong tackling.
Barrow AFC subs: Housham for McKechnie (57). Not used: Lowe, Anthony.

Lancaster: Thornley, Sparrow, Graham, Clitheroe, Haddow, Mayors, Martin, Butler, Ward (Morton, 65), Brown, Potts (Dickinson, 74). Not Used: Kilbane.

Goals: Barrow: McKechnie (4), Bullimore (69).
Lancaster: Clitheroe (15), Ward (18).
Red cards: Barrow: None. Lancaster: None
Yellow cards: Barrow: Maxfield (87 minutes) Lancaster: None
Offsides: Barrow: 4 Lancaster: 2
Free Kicks: Barrow: 12 Lancaster: 12
Shots on target: Barrow: 5 Lancaster: 2
Shots off target: Barrow: 3 Lancaster: 5
Corners: Barrow: 1 Lancaster: 1
Referee: Mr K A Lawton (Merseyside)
Attendance: 1159

CHILTS AND WALLER GO
Squad take 10 per cent pay cut - Cash-strapped AFC forced to release coach and player
By Neil Lauderdale, Evening Mail, Monday 2 January

Cash-strapped Barrow AFC have been forced to release Micky Waller and coach Tony Chilton. Last season's player of the year Waller has had to make way following the arrival of fellow centre half Anthony Hall last week. Manager Kenny Lowe made the hard decision to let the defender go after the club's financial constraints made it difficult to keep him, and with home gates dropping below the 1000 mark in recent weeks, Lowe has also had to show Chilton the door. Every player on AFC's books have also had to take a 10 per cent wage cut. The Bluebirds chief wasn't prepared to lose another one of his playing staff so it was Wembley 1990 FA Trophy hero Chilton that bit the bullet. Waller, who lost his place in the squad to Hall after the former Gateshead player signed for Barrow on Boxing Day, has been a regular in the side all season. But Lowe said: "If you are going to bring people in then someone has to go. Anthony Hall has come in so someone had to go. I wanted to keep him but you can only work with what we have got. If it's not there, it's not there." He added: "People are always looking at the situation within the club and we have got to tailor things to suit the present situation." The club relies on its 1000 plus gates to keep it going, but over the last couple of months the attendances have dropped below that mark and many games have been postponed, which have severely dented finances.

Lowe said: "I'm not begging fans to come. They come if they want to come and we have got an obligation to put something on that they want to see, which I think we have done to be truthful. "I just hope they don't think we are out of the woods. Hopefully they will come back and get the levels of 1000, 1100 back again. We have got some good players and it would be a shame to lose them." The Barrow manager was speaking after his side completed their Christmas and New Year programme with a 2-2 draw at home to Lancaster City. After taking the lead early through Mike McKechnie's first goal of the season they let in two sloppy goals as City looked to be heading for a win. But Wayne Bullimore hit a wonder strike with 20 minutes left on the clock from 25 yards to ensure Barrow took a share of the points. It was the second time the two sides had met in the space of seven days after they drew 1-1 on Boxing Day at the Giant Axe ground. And Lowe said: "I thought we should have won. I looked at what their keeper has had to do and our lad (Simon Bishop) didn't have to make a save."

City's Mark Thornley, who started the season as a Barrow player, made three superb saves from Nicky Peverell and Hall. "The one off Pev was a fantastic save and he's made a save off Anthony Hall twice," Lowe added. The point comes on the back of an away win at Burscough and the point against City last Monday, and Lowe said: "I think if you look at it, two really hard away games and then one at home, you would have taken two draws and a win." AFC should have played Frickley at home on Saturday but the match was postponed because of snow and heavy frost.

UNIBOND LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, 23 DECEMBER
Altrincham 3 Whitby Town 1, Bishop Auckland 5 Bamber Bridge 2, Blyth Spartans 3 Runcorn 0, Burscough 1 Barrow 2, Droylsden 0 Gateshead 0, Emley 1 Accrington Stanley 0, Hucknall Town 1 Colwyn Bay 0, Lancaster City 2 Gainsborough Trinity 1, Leek Town 3 Spennymoor United 1, Marine 0 Worksop Town 1, Stalybridge Celtic 3 Frickley Athletic 0.

UNIBOND LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, 26 DECEMBER
Accrington Stanley 1 Bamber Bridge 3, Colwyn Bay 2 Marine 3, Frickley Athletic 1 Emley 3, Gainsborough Trinity 1 Worksop Town 1, Gateshead 2 Blyth Spartans 5, Hucknall Town P Leek Town P, Hyde United 1 Stalybridge Celtic 2, Lancaster City 1 Barrow 1, Runcorn 2 Burscough 0, Spennymoor United P Bishop Auckland P, Whitby Town 0 Droylsden 1.

UNIBOND LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, 30 DECEMBER
Accrington Stanley P Gateshead P, Bamber Bridge P Whitby Town P, Barrow P Frickley Athletic P, Blyth Spartans P Marine P, Burscough P Hucknall Town P, Colwyn Bay P Altrincham P, Droylsden P Stalybridge Celtic P, Gainsborough Trinity P Leek Town P, Hyde United P Runcorn P, Spennymoor United P Lancaster City P, Worksop Town P Bishop Auckland P.

UNIBOND LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, 1 JANUARY
Altrincham 3 Frickley Athletic 1, Barrow 2 Lancaster City 2, Emley 1 Gainsborough Trinity 0, Marine P Accrington Stanley P, Stalybridge Celtic P Hyde United P.

P W D L F-A Pts
Emley.....................24 18 3 3 43-22 57
Stalybridge Celtic........20 14 5 1 51-16 47
Altrincham................24 13 5 6 49-28 44
Bishop Auckland...........21 13 3 5 41-25 42
Worksop Town..............22 11 5 6 61-36 38
Lancaster City............21 10 5 6 39-35 35
Accrington Stanley........24 10 5 9 38-34 35
Hucknall Town.............19 9 6 4 26-21 33
BARROW....................20 9 4 7 36-33 31
Burscough.................19 9 3 7 33-29 30
Whitby Town...............23 8 5 10 31-34 29
Gainsborough Trinity......23 8 5 10 26-34 29
Hyde United...............19 7 5 7 36-31 26
Droylsden.................21 8 2 11 26-36 26
Gateshead.................18 7 4 7 34-25 25
Colwyn Bay................20 6 7 7 33-38 25
Marine....................25 6 7 12 34-47 25
Blyth Spartans............23 7 3 13 26-34 24
Bamber Bridge.............21 7 3 11 29-41 24
Runcorn...................19 6 3 10 22-35 21
Leek Town.................20 4 5 11 16-26 17
Frickley Athletic.........20 2 4 14 19-53 10
Spennymoor United.........22 2 3 17 22-58 9

NATIONWIDE CONFERENCE, 22-23 DECEMBER
22 December: Southport 2 Stevenage Borough 2.
23 December: Chester City 0 Hayes 0.

NATIONWIDE CONFERENCE, 26 DECEMBER
Chester City 2 Hereford United 1, Dagenham & Redbridge 1 Dover Athletic 1, Forest Green Rovers 0 Yeovil Town 1, Hayes 0 Stevenage Borough 1, Hednesford Town 1 Telford United 1, Kettering Town 2 Boston United 2, Northwich Victoria 1 Leigh RMI 1, Nuneaton Borough 1 Rushden & Diamonds 1, Scarborough 3 Doncaster Rovers 1, Southport 1 Morecambe 2, Woking 0 Kingstonian 0.

NATIONWIDE CONFERENCE, 30 DECEMBER
Chester City P Telford United P, Dagenham & Redbridge 2 Leigh RMI 1, Forest Green Rovers 0 Boston United 3, Hednesford Town P Dover Athletic P, Kettering Town P Yeovil Town P, Northwich Victoria P Kingstonian P, Nuneaton Borough P Doncaster Rovers P, Southport P Hereford United P, Woking P Morecambe P.

NATIONWIDE CONFERENCE, 1 JANUARY 2001
Boston United 4 Kettering Town 3, Doncaster Rovers 0 Scarborough 2, Dover Athletic 3 Dagenham & Redbridge 1, Hereford United 2 Chester City 0, Kingstonian 0 Woking 3, Leigh RMI 3 Northwich Victoria 0, Morecambe 1 Southport 3, Rushden & Diamonds 2 Nuneaton Borough 1, Stevenage Borough 3 Hayes 3, Telford United P Hednesford Town P, Yeovil Town 2 Forest Green Rovers 0.

P W D L F-A Pts
Yeovil Town...............22 17 3 2 44-23 54
Rushden & Diamonds........24 14 5 5 50-25 47
Southport.................23 13 4 6 35-23 43
Hereford United...........24 10 9 5 37-21 39
Stevenage Borough.........23 8 12 3 42-33 36
Doncaster Rovers..........24 10 6 8 24-26 36
Dagenham & Redbridge......23 10 5 8 34-30 35
Scarborough...............24 9 8 7 37-35 35
Boston United.............25 8 10 7 42-34 34
Chester City..............22 8 9 5 28-19 33
Leigh RMI.................23 8 9 6 31-27 33
Dover Athletic............24 9 5 10 38-34 32
Telford United............20 8 4 8 21-25 28
Morecambe.................20 6 7 7 31-29 25
Nuneaton Borough..........22 6 7 9 29-35 25
Woking....................23 6 7 10 25-37 25
Hayes.....................24 7 3 14 22-45 24
Northwich Victoria........22 6 5 11 24-38 23
Forest Green Rovers.......24 4 8 12 25-39 20
Kingstonian...............22 5 4 13 29-43 19
Hednesford Town...........22 4 7 11 32-48 19
Kettering Town............22 3 7 12 22-33 16

RYMAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, 23 DECEMBER
Aldershot Town 4 Carshalton Athletic 0, Billericay Town 2 Canvey Island 1, Croydon 2 Harrow Borough 0, Gravesend & Northfleet 3 Chesham United 2, Hampton & Richmond 1 Maidenhead United 0, Hendon 1 Grays Athletic 1, Hitchin Town 0 Basingstoke Town 1, Purfleet 3 Enfield 0, St Albans City 2 Dulwich Hamlet 1, Slough Town 0 Farnborough Town 2, Sutton United 1 Heybridge Swifts 2.

RYMAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, 26 DECEMBER
Basingstoke Town 1 Hampton & Richmond 0, Canvey Island 1 Gravesend & Northfleet 1, Carshalton Athletic 0 Sutton United 1, Chesham United 2 St Albans City 0, Dulwich Hamlet 1 Croydon 4, Enfield 2 Hitchin Town 5, Farnborough Town 1 Aldershot Town 0, Grays Athletic 1 Purfleet 1, Harrow Borough 1 Hendon 4, Heybridge Swifts 2 Billericay Town 2, Maidenhead United 1 Slough Town 0.

RYMAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, 29-30 DECEMBER
29 December: Purfleet P Dulwich Hamlet P.
30 December: Billericay Town P Carshalton Athletic P, Croydon P Basingstoke Town P, Gravesend & Northfleet 2 Farnborough Town 1, Hitchin Town 0 Maidenhead United 2, Slough Town P Canvey Island P, Sutton United P Grays Athletic P.

RYMAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, 1-2 JANUARY
1 January: Aldershot Town P Harrow Borough P, Hendon P Heybridge Swifts P, St Albans City 0 Enfield 1.
2 January: Hampton & Richmond 3 Chesham United 1.

P W D L F-A Pts
Aldershot Town............19 12 5 2 36-13 41
Farnborough Town..........19 13 2 4 32-12 41
Canvey Island.............18 11 3 4 32-15 36
Heybridge Swifts..........20 9 8 3 39-27 35
Hampton & Richmond........21 9 6 6 41-36 33
Sutton United.............18 9 5 4 27-16 32
Basingstoke Town..........17 9 5 3 26-16 32
Hitchin Town..............19 10 1 8 33-27 31
Gravesend & Northfleet....18 9 4 5 27-21 31
Chesham United............20 10 1 9 36-31 31
St Albans City............22 10 1 11 31-32 31
Billericay Town...........19 9 4 6 28-31 31
Hendon....................16 7 5 4 30-24 26
Enfield...................19 6 6 7 27-31 24
Harrow Borough............17 5 5 7 27-37 20
Maidenhead United.........21 6 1 14 22-35 19
Croydon...................18 5 3 10 21-28 18
Purfleet..................18 3 8 7 26-28 17
Slough Town...............20 4 4 12 17-30 16
Carshalton Athletic.......19 3 3 13 21-46 12
Grays Athletic............17 2 5 10 11-32 11
Dulwich Hamlet............19 1 5 13 18-40 8

DR MARTENS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, 23 DECEMBER
Bath City 2 Newport County 0, Cambridge City 3 Halesowen Town 0, Dorchester Town 0 Welling United 3, Fisher Athletic 2 Tamworth 1, Ilkeston Town 2 Havant & Waterlooville 1, Margate 2 Clevedon Town 0, Merthyr Tydfil 1 Burton Albion 5, Salisbury City 0 Folkestone Invicta 0, Stafford Rangers 3 Weymouth 2, Worcester City 1 King's Lynn 1.

DR MARTENS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, 26 DECEMBER
Burton Albion 0 Stafford Rangers 0, Clevedon Town 0 Bath City 1,Crawley Town 0 Margate 0, Folkestone Invicta 2 Fisher Athletic 1, Halesowen Town 1 Worcester City 3, Havant & Waterlooville 3 Salisbury City 1, King's Lynn 2 Ilkeston Town 2, Newport County 2 Merthyr Tydfil 0, Tamworth 0 Moor Green 1, Welling United 0 Cambridge City 2, Weymouth 4 Dorchester Town 1.

DR MARTENS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, 30 DECEMBER
Burton Albion P Cambridge City P, Clevedon Town P Stafford Rangers P, Crawley Town P Worcester City P, Folkestone Invicta P Dorchester Town P, Halesowen Town P Ilkeston Town P, Havant & Waterlooville P Merthyr Tydfil P, Newport County P Fisher Athletic P, Salisbury City P King's Lynn P, Tamworth P Bath City P, Welling United 0 Moor Green 0, Weymouth P Margate P.

DR MARTENS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, 1 JANUARY
Bath City 0 Weymouth 0, Cambridge City P King's Lynn P, Dorchester Town 0 Havant & Waterlooville 1, Fisher Athletic P Welling United P, Ilkeston Town 2 Burton Albion 1, Margate 3 Folkestone Invicta 2, Merthyr Tydfil P Clevedon Town P, Moor Green P Halesowen Town P, Salisbury City 1 Crawley Town 1, Stafford Rangers P Tamworth P, Worcester City 4 Newport County 4.

P W D L F-A Pts
Margate...................21 13 3 5 41-18 42
Burton Albion.............20 11 7 2 37-18 40
Moor Green................22 11 3 8 28-25 36
Crawley Town..............21 10 5 6 39-27 35
Welling United............22 9 8 5 29-27 35
Bath City.................20 9 7 4 38-33 34
Worcester City............20 9 6 5 32-29 33
Salisbury City............20 9 5 6 37-35 32
Cambridge City............20 9 4 7 33-27 31
Ilkeston Town.............20 9 4 7 31-32 31
Newport County............21 8 6 7 37-33 30
Stafford Rangers..........20 8 5 7 34-30 29
Havant & Waterlooville....16 9 0 7 30-22 27
Weymouth..................21 7 6 8 33-29 27
King's Lynn...............22 7 6 9 36-40 27
Folkestone Invicta........22 6 5 11 26-41 23
Merthyr Tydfil............20 4 8 8 31-35 20
Halesowen Town............20 4 7 9 24-33 19
Tamworth..................22 5 3 14 22-38 18
Clevedon Town.............21 4 5 12 29-40 17
Fisher Athletic...........17 4 2 11 24-39 14
Dorchester Town...........18 3 5 10 17-37 14

UNIBOND FIRST DIVISION, 26 DECEMBER
Belper Town 4 Winsford United 1, Bradford Park Avenue 1 Trafford 0, Congleton Town 2 Eastwood Town 0, Guiseley 0 Chorley 1, Matlock Town 3 Harrogate Town 1, Radcliffe Borough 2 Gretna 1, Vauxhall Motors 4 Farsley Celtic 0, Workington 1 Witton Albion 1.

UNIBOND FIRST DIVISION, 30 DECEMBER
Ashton United 3 Radcliffe Borough 0, Chorley 1 Congleton Town 1, Eastwood Town 0 Lincoln United 0, Farsley Celtic 1 Trafford 0, Harrogate Town 1 Guiseley 1, Matlock Town 3 Belper Town 2, North Ferriby United 3 Vauxhall Motors 2, Witton Albion 1 Winsford United 0.

UNIBOND FIRST DIVISION, 1 JANUARY
Trafford 3 Ashton United 1

Bradford PA 21 14 2 5 37 18 19 44
Vauxhall Motors 20 13 3 4 57 26 31 42
Ashton United 19 12 4 3 45 22 23 40
Stocksbridge PS 21 10 8 3 40 29 11 38
Witton Albion 18 10 4 4 25 18 7 34
North Ferriby United 22 9 6 7 38 36 2 33
Belper Town 19 9 4 6 38 33 5 31
Chorley 22 8 7 7 38 34 4 31
Farsley Celtic 21 8 5 8 33 29 4 29
Ossett Town 24 7 7 10 38 36 2 28
Trafford 23 8 4 11 25 35 -10 27
Workington 20 6 8 6 25 20 5 26
Lincoln United 25 7 5 13 33 51 -18 26
Winsford United 22 7 7 8 28 34 -6 25
Kendal Town 22 6 7 9 35 42 -7 24
Eastwood Town 23 6 5 12 20 32 -12 23
Matlock Town 18 6 4 8 33 32 1 22
Radcliffe Borough 15 7 1 7 28 27 1 22
Guiseley 20 6 4 10 12 24 -12 22
Harrogate Town 21 6 4 11 27 40 -13 22
Gretna 20 5 3 12 29 51 -22 18
Congleton Town 18 5 2 11 21 36 -15 17


DECEMBER’S RESULTS
Saturday 2 December Barrow v Droylsden W 2-0 903
Tuesday 5 December Barrow v Workington (ULC) P P-P
Saturday 9 December Emley v Barrow D 0-0 372
Tuesday 12 December Lancaster City v Barrow (ULC) P P-P
Saturday 16 December Barrow v Bishop Auckland L 1-4 961
Tuesday 19 December Barrow v Gretna (ULC) (7.45) P P-P
Saturday 23 December Burscough v Barrow W 1-2 333
Tuesday 26 December Lancaster City v Barrow D 1-1 737
Saturday 30 December Barrow v Frickley P P-P


FROM JIM WHITTON AND HIS TRUSTY TRANNY
Burscough 1 Barrow 2, 23 December

After a poor first half, the game turned on a penalty miss by Burscough's Talbot on the hour, which dented the home side's confidence and spurred Barrow on to an unlikely win. Barrow started quite well and Roberts fed Peverell but his shot was saved. Bishop had to make a save on 12 minutes, but the home side went ahead on 14 minutes with another poor refereeing decision. Talbot crossed to McEvilly, who looked well offside; his header hit the post but he netted the rebound. Barrow were shaken and the next 15 minutes were scrappy. Warren was booked, and McKechnie shot wide on 30 minutes. Burton then hit the top of the bar with a long shot.

Barrow continued to have most possession in the second period, but the final ball was too often poor. In a fairly rare Burscough attack on the hour, Waller was harshly adjudged to have fouled Burton and the ref awarded a penalty. Justice was done when Talbot blazed over the bar. Doherty replaced McKechnie as Barrow sensed an equaliser. Peverell headed just over before the scores were levelled on 64 minutes. Peverell had a half chance but the ball was cleared to Bullimore; he sliced his shot but Peverell was there to prod it in. With Barrow dominant, Roberts got clear of the defence but was pulled up by the referee for a foul. However, Burscough came back strongly and the dangerous Talbot went close, then a Hume error gave them another chance but fortunately the resulting shot hit the bar and went over. As the tide swung back Barrow's way, Ainsley shot just over from a Bullimore corner with 10 minutes to go, then a Doherty drive was just too high. With two minutes to go, Barrow got the winner their second-half play had earned. A Hume header from a corner hit the bar, and Peverell was there to scramble it in.

FROM BEHIND THEIR FENCES
From the Burscough site at

Barrow won the game with a winner from Nicky Peverell two minutes from time but Burscough had only themselves to blame for not taking all three points from this holiday thriller. The home side went ahead after 12 minutes when Lee McEvilly headed against the post before collecting the rebound and firing high into the net. It took a great save from Bishop to deny Robbie Talbot a second and a tremendous Ray Birch volley clipped the top of the crossbar as Burscough continued to look the more threatening side. Eight minutes into the second half Andy Howard was brought down in the area but Talbot fired the spot kick high and wide and six minutes later the Linnets paid the price as Peverell diverted a misdirected Bullimore shot into the net for the equaliser. With 12 minutes left Talbot had a great chance to regain the lead but instead of squaring the ball to the unmarked McEvilly he elected to go it alone and his shot smashed against the crossbar.

Burscough: Taylor, Hanson, Clandon, Bowen (Howard 54), Farrell, McMullen, Stanton, McEvilly, Wilde, Talbot, Birch (Knowles 75).

FROM BEHIND THEIR OTHER FENCES
From Dollies on the Net at

City just about kept their unbeaten League run going, grabbing an equaliser against a Barrow side who had the better of this game, but it was the pitch that was the real winner in this game. The overnight frost was not sufficient to see the game called off, but did leave the pitch hard and bumpy on top, the ball therefore proving hard to control. The visitors appeared to play the conditions better, City being a pale shadow of the side that dominated Gainsborough just three days before. In the first half City's best chance fell to Chris Ward, who shot over from ten yards after good work by Phil Brown. Ward also had a couple of other chances, in particular with a header, but Barrow came closest when a header from a free kick hit the woodwork. Barrow always looked dangerous from set pieces, this being the main aspect of their game on a day when football was difficult. The pattern continued in the second half, City never really getting on top of the game, and Barrow finally took the lead when a ball was played from the middle of the pitch over a static defence and Roberts easily beat Thornley to score. City were finally jolted into action, having a few decent attacks, but it took a bit of luck for us to get the equaliser. Ward's cross was headed goalwards by Dean Martin, only to be blocked by the arm of a Barrow defender. It was a clear penalty, but rather needless given that Martin's header was from around 18 yards out. In any case, Chris Ward scored from the spot, and although we kept pressing after that, we didn't really look like adding a winner, and certainly didn't deserve to.

City: Thornley, Sparrow, Graham, L Clitheroe, Haddow, Mayers, Martin, Butler, Ward, Brown, Potts. Subs (unused) Cartridge, S Clitheroe, Dickinson.

MORE FROM JIM WHITTON AND HIS TRUSTY TRANNY
Lancaster City 1 Barrow 1, 26 December

Barrow had to settle for a draw in the Boxing Day derby match although they will be satisfied with their performance overall. New signing Anthony Hall, from Gateshead, made his debut in defence and Barrow played 3-5-2 with the Warren in midfield. Kenny Lowe decided that the hard, bumpy pitch was unsuitable for thoroughbreds and Bullimore, who was carrying a slight injury, was rested. The first half was fairly scrappy but Barrow had the advantage in midfield. Peverell was through on ten minutes but the referee blew for offside is he rounded former Barrow keeper Mark Thornley. Ward headed wide on 23 minutes and then a Maxfield free kick was headed onto his own crossbar by Haddow. The best chance fell to Ward just after the half-hour but fortunately the ball bobbled and he shot over. Robert chested the ball down and turned well but volleyed straight at Thornley, and then he failed to get the ball across to Peverell, who was unmarked as a good chance went begging.

In the second half, Barrow continued to have most of the possession but were unable to create many good scoring chances. On the hour, Roberts had a header saved, then minutes later he looked as if he would score but Thornley scrambled back to make a good save. However, he finally got his goal on 76 minutes when he ran on to a Warren through ball and fired in over the keeper’s head. Unfortunately, a rare slack moment in defence led to the equaliser with seven minutes to go. The Barrow players stood back waiting for the ball to run out of play but unfortunately it stayed in and from the cross a header hit Warren on the arm and the referee gave a penalty. Ward took it well to give Lancaster a slightly fortunate share of the points. Hall had an excellent debut for Barrow and, for the second game, Warren looked really good in midfield.

EVEN MORE FROM JIM AND HIS TRUSTY TRANNY
Barrow 2 Lancaster City 2

With injuries, work commitments and suspension, Barrow were down to the bare bones for this match. Kenny Lowe came out of retirement onto the subs bench, together with the injured Housham and Anthony. Barrow got off to a dream start with a goal after four minutes. Peverell and Roberts combined to feed Ainsley who shot was parried by Thornley and McKechnie scored from the rebound. However, sloppy play after 16 minutes handed Lancaster the equaliser. A Barrow player was robbed of the ball, Ward beat two players down the left and crossed for Clitheroe to score. Barely two minutes later, Ward was clearly pushed inside the penalty box and he scored from the resulting spot kick to give Lancaster an unlikely lead. On 21 minutes, Roberts missed a header from an excellent Doherty cross. Barrow continued to have more possession but Lancaster's more direct style was better suited to the heavy conditions and on 42 minutes Butler shot narrowly wide as Lancaster ended the half well.

Potts had a chance to make it 3-1 but shot wide on 50 minutes. Housham then came on for McKechnie. It seemed as if Barrow were fighting their way back into the game and on 66 minu