Holker Street Newsletter 9 - 30th October 1997

Oh dear, we were beaten 3-0 by Lancaster City in the UniBond League Challenge Cup on Tuesday night, and whilst it allows us to concentrate on the League, this is now two Cups we've been knocked out of at the first hurdle. Granted the League Challenge Cup isn't particularly exciting, and come the end of the season we may be glad we knocked out at an early stage, it's still disappointing to lose to a side we know we can beat.

UNIBOND LEAGUE: FIRST DIVISION
Buxton 0 Worksop 1, Great Harwood 2 Trafford 2, Harrogate Town 2 Lincoln 3, Witton 5 Eastwood Town 1

CHALLENGE CUP: FIRST ROUND
Accrington Stanley 4 Marine 4, Altrincham 3 Droylsden 0, Bamber Bridge 0 Chorley 1, BARROW 0 LANCASTER 3, Belper Town 1 Stocksbridge PS 0, Blyth Spartans 1 Whitley Bay 0, Colwyn Bay 1 Hyde 0, Radcliffe 0 Leigh 0

MATCH REPORT
A combination of a home game and a Cup competition Barrow never seem interested in led to the inevitable humiliation in the League Cup, losing 3-0. Barrow were 2-0 down after half an hour, looked like coming back into it before half time, but then faded away in the second half, conceding a third with 15 minutes to go. All three goals were described as sloppy defending.

Jimmy Brown wasn't playing as he is suspended, neither was Neil Morton nor Bauress, so perhaps they weren't taking it serious. The crowd was approximately 500.

Thanks to James Whitton and Darryn Reilly (and his dad).


Those with long memories might remember a similar result by the same team when they knocked us out of the ATS (Lancashire Cup) December 1 1995, a couple of days after Ray Wilkie passed away.

Next game is at home to Alfreton this Saturday in the League, if anyone goes and fancies doing a match report, it would be much appreciated.


OTHER WEB PAGES
Accrington Stanley, they have recently appointed Leighton James as their new manager: www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~aries01/ or www.stanley.demon.co.uk

OTHER NEWS (UNRELATED TO BAFC)
England have arranged to play Columbia in a friendly at Wembley on 15 November, there are likely to be other friendlies announced before Christmas.


ANORAK SECTION

October 4
BARROW 1-2 SPENNYMOOR 1174
Brown 65 Alderson 73
Robson 85

October 7
BAMBER BRIDGE 2-2 BARROW 529
Trainor 46 Morton 75
Milligan 59 Brown 89

October 11
BARROW 2-1 FRICKLEY 938
O'Keefe 17 Armstrong 55
Morton 23

October 14
BARROW 1-0 CHORLEY 973
Coates 7

October 18
HYDE 0-3 BARROW 832
O'Keefe 36
Morton 37
Prior 45
HOLKER STREET NUMBER 10 - 4 NOVEMBER 1997

Another Saturday, another three points, it's starting to get predictable isn't it? No, it's wonderful. Of particular interest from this week's results are how much Winsford have caught up on the pack, and Boston dropping two points, which is one less than they will drop next week when we play them at Boston, a repeat of last season's thrashing would be very welcome. Heck, we might even let their goalie stay on for the whole 90 minutes this time.

I don't have a great deal to report this week, the reason for that will become apparent later, but I hope what I do have is of interest.

BTW, I've enclosed the results from the other three major non-League Divisions, do you want to see them in future? Email me and let me know.


REPORT - BARROW v ALFRETON
Barrow managed to avoid the usual banana skin of a home game against a bottom club, winning 2-0 in a game which according to Radio Cumbria was very comfortable. Lots of chances but no goals until the 53rd minute when McAuley (making a welcome return) crossed for O'Keefe to head in at the far post. (O'Keefe had previously missed a sitter, side footing onto the bar from six feet.)

Barrow kept up the intense pressure and made it safe eight minutes from time with (yet another) excellent Prior goal - running through and blasting the ball in from 20 yards. Several bookings for Barrow, including Johnstone and Morton, the latter for intervening in a tussle between Johnstone and an Alfreton player. Will he never learn?

Thanks to Jim Whitton and Radio Cumbria for this.


REARRANGED GAME
We were due to play Winsford away on 12 November, we will now play Runcorn away on 11 November, with a date for the Winsford game to be announced.

Thanks to Frank Boddy for this.
.

ANOTHER (BARROW AFC) RECORD?
Frank Boddy has also pointed out we have now gone four League matches without conceding a goal, and he asks when was the last time this was bettered. Anyone help?


ANOTHER MATCH REPORT FROM THE ACCRINGTON GAME
Trawling through the internet I came across this report from the Accrington Stanley v Barrow game on October 21, on the Lancashire Evening Telegraph's home page.

STANLEY HEROES UNLUCKY TO LOSE
Top-of-the-table Barrow snatched a UniBond Premier win they didn't really deserve against a Stanley side who performed heroically and ended the game with just ten men at the Crown Ground last night. Both sides started this game brightly with Stanley the first to show when Stuart Cliff found Darren Quick only for him to head wide of goal. Dave Leaver fired in a corner that Jez Baldwin back-headed across the goalmouth the ball being headed away by a Barrow defender for another corner. As Stanley got forward at every opportunity, Barrow's Dave Higgins shot from 30 yards was comfortably saved by Rob Mulloy. After another David Leaver corner, play at the other end saw Rob Mulloy save from Neil Morton, Jimmy Brown passed a diagonal ball to Morton but Wayne Dowell saw the danger and cleared off Morton's toes. Paul Robertson's corner for Barrow was headed over by Paul Jones as the play swung from end to end. Steve Haw had a shot cleared off the line with Stanley giving at least as good as they got. A Chris Molloy cross was dropped by Steve Farrelly and hastily cleared upfield. Brian Welch shot over from 18 yards, Farrelly then made a good save from Stuart Cliff before Rob Mulloy made a good catch from another dangerous Robertson corner. Almost on half time Russell Procter was thrust up front to replace the injured Jim McCluskie who had to be stretchered off to hospital.

The first fifteen minutes of the second half were rather scrappy with Procter just unable to connect to a Chris Molloy cross. Stuart Cliff had a shot saved by Farrelly then Dave Higgins headed over the Stanley bar as both teams again got forward. Jez Baldwin was dismissed in the 62nd minute for a second bookable offence. Russell Procter was immediately put back in defence but Stanley even with ten men still got forward and showed a lot of character in keeping the game flowing and putting Barrow under pressure. Darren Davies dribbled through the Barrow defence only for his shot to go inches wide, then Rob Mulloy came out and saved at the feet of Neil Morton. A Brian Welch cross was volleyed just over from 20 yards by Chris Molloy. Then Steve Dowell again defended well by clearing the ball as Barrow came forward again. Eddie Johnston, the Barrow defender, made a last ditch tackle to save his team as the game drew nearer to a close. On 88 minutes substitute Mark Grugel fired the ball home for Barrow as Stanley hesitated claiming offside. Accrington Stanley who had put in a superb performance, even when they were down to ten men, did not deserve to lost this game.


NEW ZEALAND NEWS
Eddie Kennedy, the ex-Barrow player who had been playing for Napier City Rovers here in NZ, and is holiday in the UK has decided to stay in the UK and not return to NZ. He will play for Glaxo in the local Barrow Leagues, if any of you see him on your travels, please tell him Ralph asks after him.


UNIBOND LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, 1 NOVEMBER 1997
Accrington Stanley 4 Emley 2, Altrincham 1 Hyde United 3, Barrow 2 Alfreton Town 0, Bishop Auckland 1 Bamber Bridge 1, Colwyn Bay 2 Spennymoor United 0, Frickley Athletic 2 Chorley 0, Gainsborough Trinity 0 Winsford United 2, Guiseley 2 Lancaster City 1, Leigh RMI 1 Marine 0, Radcliffe Borough 1 Boston United 1, Runcorn 1 Blyth Spartans 1.

P W D L F:A Pts
BARROW......................17 11 4 2 30:11 37
Boston United...............17 7 8 2 23:15 29
Winsford United.............10 8 1 1 17:5 25
Runcorn.....................15 7 3 5 28:22 24
Bishop Auckland.............15 6 6 3 27:22 24
Spennymoor United...........14 7 3 4 19:18 24
Colwyn Bay..................16 7 3 6 23:25 24
Altrincham..................16 7 2 7 28:17 23
Gainsborough Trinity........13 7 2 4 21:14 23
Guiseley....................16 5 7 4 24:22 22
Frickley Athletic...........14 5 5 4 16:16 20
Lancaster City..............16 6 2 8 26:31 20
Hyde United.................12 5 3 4 18:15 18
Emley.......................14 5 3 6 25:24 18
Accrington Stanley..........17 4 5 8 20:27 17
Leigh RMI...................11 4 4 3 12:9 16
Radcliffe Borough...........16 4 4 8 21:31 16
Marine......................12 3 5 4 14:15 14
Bamber Bridge...............15 3 4 8 20:30 13
Blyth Spartans..............15 2 6 7 14:22 12
Chorley.....................15 3 3 9 16:31 12
Alfreton Town...............14 2 1 11 9:29 7


Finally, I have some bad news to report, on Saturday November 1 my father died after a short illness. I have a lot to thank him for, not least for it was he who introduced me to Barrow AFC, but I know there are some people on this list who met my father.

His name was Frank William Sheppard and, until he retired, was a joiner in the yard. If you knew him and would like to send a card, please can you send it to his widow, Mrs Mary Sheppard, 5 Thornfield Park, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 5QD. If you did know him, I would be grateful if you would do this as it would mean an awful lot to my Mam.