Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

BARROW 2 - 1 DROYLSDEN

Nationwide North, Saturday 26th August 2006

Report by William Patterson

It has been apparent for some time now that Nationwide North sides target Droylsden as a team to beat, and raise their game accordingly. This game was a classic example, and a number of home fans who I spoke to stated that this was the best Barrow performance seen at Holker Street for over two years. Given also that the Droylsden squad appeared to be suffering from a collective hangover from the midweek catastrophe at Moor Green, A home victory was always likely to anyone watching this game.

Droylsden began positively with a slight wind behind them, and Jimmy Williams made an incisive run from deep in his own half terminating in the Barrow twelve yard box. This, however, was to be the last significant pressure from Droylsden for a long period. Barrow made their intentions clear by countering straight away with Kyle Wilson taking the ball to the byline and firing a dangerous low cross which was diverted for a corner. This was the beginning of a spell of sustained pressure from Barrow, with Droylsden keeper Paul Phillips making a number of saves. It appeared to be a matter of time before the home side scored, and it duly happened after 18 minutes when an angled cross from the right was knocked down by Alex Taylor to the feet of Wilson, who evaded a challenge from Halford and neatly slid the ball below Phillips.

Barrow continued to dominate for the remainder of the first half, playing an accurate passing game at high tempo, looking confident in possession. Droylsden, by comparison, seemed to be devoid of ideas, particularly in midfield. They did show signs of coming alive shortly before the break when Fearns had a shot blocked on the line, the ball breaking to Lynch who tested Jamie Speare from outside the box.

The second half began with the Bloods beginning to resemble the side which had won their three opening games. Banim forced a save from Speare after a flick on from Daly, and a series of raids on the home defence was to follow, with Droylsden looking more composed and running intelligently. The game was to turn, however, when Barrow broke and Wilson hit a rising shot wide of the right hand upright. Players from both sides were walking upfield assuming that a dead ball had been given, but the referee, for some reason known only to himself or his assistant, pointed to the right corner flag. The flag-kick was met majestically by Tom Pope at the far edge of the six yard box and his header entered the net via the crossbar.

Dave Pace's men worked hard to get back into the game, but Barrow looked well capable of defending their lead, and continued to be a threat on the counter, with the mercurial Mike Eckersley causing potential havoc with his runs on the right flank. The Bloods continued to battle, and they looked certain to score in the 87th minute when Fitzpatrick deftly knocked an angled cross from the right into the path of the advancing Gary Burke, who volleyed perfectly but was denied by an excellent point blank save from Speare. Droylsden got on the score sheet in the final minute when Chris Denham was brought down as he advanced into the box from the right and referee Hay pointed to the spot. Terry Fearns stepped up, and saw his spot kick saved by Speare, but the keeper was adjudged to have come off his line too soon, and Fearns placed the retaken kick low into the net. The Bloods kept up the pressure in stoppage time and Steve Daly actually came within a touch of equalising during a scramble in the six yard box, but anyone who watched this game would agree that this would have been a grave injustice to Barrow on the day.

Barrow: Speare, Eckersley, Butler, Jones, Cotterill, Howson(Capt.), Wilson, Bond, Pope, Taylor(Rogan 60), Stringfellow.

Subs not used: Smith, Flitcroft, Ridley, Morsby.

Droylsden: Phillips, Williams, Warner, Halford (Capt.), Ruffer(Burke 70), Morris, Banim(Denham 56), Lynch, Fearns, Daly, Rapley(Fitzpatrick 56).

Subs not used: Talbot, Jagielka.

Referee: J. Hay