MATCH REPORT: Barrow AFC 2-0 Workington AFC
- Jul 12
- 3 min read
Billy Barr’s focus throughout pre-season remains the second Saturday in August, when he aims to have his team prepared for the start of the Northern Premier League campaign.
Nevertheless, he was reasonably satisfied with Reds’ general performance and praised their fitness levels after a gallant effort against a reconstructed Barrow squad.
Their second outing was a very big step-up from the first, in terms of opposition, and they will certainly learn more from this test.
And staying in the game, after seeing very little of the ball, is one good trait to nurture. Another is looking after the ball better when you are in possession because they were guilty of giving it away too easily at times.
That said, there was plenty of optimism produced from this toughest of examinations in the midday sun and, despite the murmurings from the sun-drenched crowd, both teams, and the officials, deserved their hydration break in each half.
The early chances fell to Barrow’s MJ Williams and Reds’ skipper for the day, Matty Douglas. The latter’s diving header was wide but a reminder that Douglas can be effective in both boxes.
But Reds were caught out by a swift counter attack in the eighteenth minute and fell behind. Undone by a fine ball out to Ben Jackson, he instantly returned the ball across the face of goal and Alex Reid applied the clinical finish.
Reid then headed narrowly wide in Barrow’s next sortie forward.
The West Cumbrians were desperately unlucky not to equalise when Barrow’s first half ‘keeper, Ben Winterbottom, appeared to lose his bearings. Brennan Dickenson got round him, almost on the touch line, and angled the ball towards the vacant net but, before it crossed the line, Marcel Oakley made a spectacular clearance with Luke Hunter in attendance.
Charlie Raglan then blocked a Tom Stephenson goal-bound effort and, when played switched to the other end, Alex Mitchell pushed away a decent strike from one of four trialists in the Barrow squad.
Just when the visitors thought they had reached half time without further damage, they conceded a second. George Walker provided the assist on this occasion and Rekeem Harper converted the crucial second goal, almost a carbon copy of the first.
Barrow made ten changes at the interval but it was one of Reds three substitutes to start the second half, Jake Allan, who almost got the Step 3 side back into contention. He bulldozed his way down the right and a teasing low cross was pushed away by Killian Barrett.
But most of the attacking play after the break came from the black and white shirted hosts. Their stylish new outfit has been launched to commemorate the colours used when the club was founded 125 years ago.
Workington wore their new attire too with their traditional red supplemented by flashes of black and gold.
Danny Eccles made a clumsy return to Holker Street when he clattered into Ben Whitfield on the edge of the area – a challenge which earned him the game’s only yellow card.
Fortunately, the Barrow player was able to continue and we later saw the better version of Eccles’ game. He made excellent saves to keep out Xavier Benjamin’s well struck shot and a powerful Danny Rose header.
Scott Smith also came close to adding to Barrow’s goal tally but his effort was cleared off the line by Jack Dickinson who repeated his goal line heroics soon after.
Reds defended well in the second half, they had to, and probably deserved the bit of luck that went their way.
They rarely looked capable of creating a consolation goal, however, although Douglas’ header was kept out by Barrett after Dickinson’s long throw was launched into the area.
Overall, a satisfactory afternoon in the Cumbrian heatwave.
Barrow (first half): Winterbottom, Kalambayi, Raglan, Trialist A, Oakley, Williams, Jackson, Trialist B, Harper, Walker, Reid.
(second half): Barrett, Trialist D, Digie, Trialist A (Trialist C), Benjamin, Marriott, Crankshaw, Whitfield, Smith, Rose, Cameron.
Workington: Mitchell (Eccles, 46), Barnes, Leslie, Whitehall (Casson, 46), Douglas, Dickenson, Stephenson (Allan, 46), Ellis, Dickenson (Palmer, 60), Nugent (Thomson, 67), Hunter (Rigby, 53). Substitute – Andrews (not used).
Referee: Jeremy Simpson, Lancaster
Booking: Eccles (Workington)
Attendance: 744 (56 away fans)
