at Holker Street
AKA the Furness Building Society Stadium
Blue Square Bet Premier
Barrow AFC (1) 2
(Almond 26, Boyes 56)
Mansfield Town (2) 3
(Green 4, Futcher 29, Meikle 81)
Admission: £14. Programme: £2.50.
Attendance: 1,244
Barrow FC
1 Hurst, 17 Quinn, 19 Lomax, 20 Moyo, 3 Skelton, 7 Rutherford,12 Owen,15 Smith, 11 Boyes, 6 Mackreth,18 Almond (Brooke 84)
Unused Subs
40 Jones, 6 Hulbert,8 Baker, 10 Ferrell
Mansfield Town
1 Marriott, 3 Kendrick, 16 O'Neill, 17 Sutton, 26 Futcher,11 Murray, 21 Howell, 7 Briscoe (Worthington 84), 10 Green,
15 Dyer (Connor 77), 24 Meikle (Bolland 90)
Unused Subs
23 Redmond, 2 Naylor
When the weather forecasters said 'heavy rain in the north west of England' they knew what they were talking about.
It was an horrendous trip up at times, via a motorway network shrouded in visibility impairing spray, kicked up by kamikaze, random lane switching, lorry drivers... and the flooded 'A' roads as we neared our destination made things 'interesting' at times too.
But thankfully, our driver had the foresight to leave really early and despite the 'fun ride' capers en route to Barrow-in-Furness, we arrived safely and in plenty of time to sample a few beers before kick off. Big up n' nuff respect to you Mr Moult!
It didn't surprise me one bit to hear that a few games had been postponed across Lancashire due to waterlogged pitches, but up in Cumbria, they'd just had a quick look when the referee arrived and it was declared as game on... the pitch at Holker Street is obviously used to soaking up the climate around these parts.
Almost as magically as that little shopkeeper in Mr Benn, the sun suddenly appeared... and it remained fine for most of the afternoon, perfect football playing conditions.Blackburn Rovers obviously thought so, their 'unlikely' 4-3 victory over Arsenal on the big screens in the 'Cross Bar' kept us entertained before the big game of the day, between two BSBP league form teams.
Those in the 1,244 crowd who'd arrived with high expectations for their respective sides, weren't about to be disappointed.
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| Matt Green ... 1-0 to Mansfield |
The away support was officially recorded as being 137, but that figure was the headcount in the designated visiting fans sections of the ground.
A good few of the travelling had decided that the covered terrace on one side of the ground, was a much better option than being exposed to the elements in a pokey and exposed corner... and it gave them an opportunity to change ends at half time too, pretty much the same as the Barrow fans who did the same in the opposite direction.If the stewards and solitary local police constable who was in there, didn't know that they had been 'infiltrated', a good percentage of the Barrow fans certainly did, but they didn't mind the presence of a clique of 'Stags on tour' one bit.
Of course the acid-test of just how deeply forged these new found 'friendships' were likely to be was going to arise whenever a goal was scored... and it didn't take long to put the chummy camaraderie to the test, because Matt Green scored for the Stags inside the opening four minutes, when he latched onto a neatly weighted through ball from Louis Briscoe.
"He looks like a class act" chipped in the Barrow fan stood to my right.
"He looks like a class act" chipped in the Barrow fan stood to my right.
Green's opening strike had caught Barrow off guard, but it certainly woke them up... and for the next twenty minutes or so, before Louis Almond curled a low, long range shot home for the equaliser, Alan Marriott in the Stags goal (resplendent in flamingo-pink) had been the busiest man on the pitch by a long way.
Barrow were well up for it this afternoon and in my humble opinion gave Mansfield the toughest test they have faced so far this season.
One could argue that Gateshead must've been the best opposition side to date, because they beat the Stags 3-0 last month... but although the Tynesiders (currently at the top of the table , did dismantle Mansfield that night, the Stags were, not to put too fine a point on it: completely shite at the International Stadium and simply never got going at all.
They've developed a bloody minded resilient streak too... and to that end, the Barrow fans were still celebrating their goal and wringing their hands in anticipation of more to come, when Ben Futcher rose to nod home a Joe Kendrick free kick past the former Fleetwood Town keeper Danny Hurstm to put the visitors back in front, ever so slightly against the run of play.
Not being clinical in front of goal has cost the Stags points at home to Bath City and away at Braintree Town, but this afternoon they were capitalising on the chances they created, whilst managing to hold Barrow at bay despite being under the cosh for lengthy spells of the game.
Barrow were well up for it this afternoon and in my humble opinion gave Mansfield the toughest test they have faced so far this season.
One could argue that Gateshead must've been the best opposition side to date, because they beat the Stags 3-0 last month... but although the Tynesiders (currently at the top of the table , did dismantle Mansfield that night, the Stags were, not to put too fine a point on it: completely shite at the International Stadium and simply never got going at all.
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Ben Futcher celebrates scoring the Stags second goal
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Since that result, the personnel's been switched and tweaked about, the level of application's gone up ten-fold and Paul Cox has stamped his way of doing things all over the team.
Mansfield are fast becoming a very good side who are extremely difficult to break down.They've developed a bloody minded resilient streak too... and to that end, the Barrow fans were still celebrating their goal and wringing their hands in anticipation of more to come, when Ben Futcher rose to nod home a Joe Kendrick free kick past the former Fleetwood Town keeper Danny Hurstm to put the visitors back in front, ever so slightly against the run of play.
Not being clinical in front of goal has cost the Stags points at home to Bath City and away at Braintree Town, but this afternoon they were capitalising on the chances they created, whilst managing to hold Barrow at bay despite being under the cosh for lengthy spells of the game.
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| Futcher goes close |
Futcher has extended his loan spell at Field Mill this week until November 5th, that's great news for Mansfield Town.
Lincoln City must wish they could have their former pairing of Marriott and Futcher back as they find themselves starting to get pulled into a dogfight against relegation. But hey! It's a long season with plenty of points still up for grabs, to be won (and lost) yet.
Both sides had opportunities to get on top of the game, but with ten minutes to go Lindon Meikle seized the moment, when he got the ball near the half way line and surged through the Barrow players, sprinting towards the area... the keeper Hurst ran from his line, but Meikle drilled the ball past him to net the winning goal.
Ironically, it was a flash of individual brilliance, that decided a game that would be memorable for the team work and hard graft put in by both sides throughout.
Lincoln City must wish they could have their former pairing of Marriott and Futcher back as they find themselves starting to get pulled into a dogfight against relegation. But hey! It's a long season with plenty of points still up for grabs, to be won (and lost) yet.
Futcher nearly made it 3-1 when he headed a Kendrick corner narrowly wide, but the majority of play in the first half had belonged to the home side, and it beggared belief that when the teams went in at the break that the score was still 1-2, not that you'll hear me complaining!
The Mansfield Town board look on, while Paul Nyland does
a passable impression of a Soviet spy/henchman to the rear
a passable impression of a Soviet spy/henchman to the rear
The Stags created a couple of chances early in the second half, but Barrow pulled level on 56 minutes, when Marriott parried a shot from Louis Almond into the path of Adam Boyes, who gratefully accepted the opportunity to level things up.
Some people blamed Alan Marriott and said the equaliser was down to a goalkeeper error. But just maybe, after putting in such a great performance so far, the Stags keeper was entitled to ask why he had been left exposed as the last line of defence twice in just a matter of seconds.
Either way, Paul Cox's Mansfield side are about collective responsibility and in response to Almond's strike they just rolled their sleeves up, dusted themselves down and got on with the job in hand.
Some people blamed Alan Marriott and said the equaliser was down to a goalkeeper error. But just maybe, after putting in such a great performance so far, the Stags keeper was entitled to ask why he had been left exposed as the last line of defence twice in just a matter of seconds.
Either way, Paul Cox's Mansfield side are about collective responsibility and in response to Almond's strike they just rolled their sleeves up, dusted themselves down and got on with the job in hand.
Ironically, it was a flash of individual brilliance, that decided a game that would be memorable for the team work and hard graft put in by both sides throughout.
Lindon Meikle ... 3-2 to MansfieldFT: Barrow AFC 2 v Mansfield Town 3
Both teams are playing again on Tuesday night: Mansfield Town entertain AFC Telford at 'fortress' Field Mill, while Barrow are playing just 10 miles up the road in Alfreton.
It's a shame the games are on the same night, because I would happily watch either of these sides play again any time soon.
The weather had improved no end, save for a couple of showers and the journey home seemed like no distance at all compared to the trek up.
Cox in! In spite of those daft shorts.
