Barrow 1 Stockport County 0 ( Football League 2) Saturday 25 February 2023

County served up one of their poorest performances of the season today in losing 0-1 at Holker Street to Pete Wild`s Barrow.

If County supporters were disappointed they must also admit that our showing was far below expectations against a team that looked anything but winners particularly in the first half when the yellow shirted blues totally failed to take advantage of the home teams diffidence.

Neither keeper had a shot to save in the first 45 minutes so dire was the fare on show for a fairly large crowd from both teams.

We needed someone to put his foot on the ball , slow it all down a bit and light the spark that would get County`s show on the road, and it was not that great a stretch to hope that that would happen in the second half but sadly it didn`t.

Instead County allowed Barrow time on the ball in our half of the field with disastrous results as Josh Kay took advantage of the fact that County seemed to have switched off following a poor bit of decision making by Referee Ollie Yates, winning the game for his side with the first decent shot of the game.

Challinor belatedly rang the changes after this but to no avail although I have to say that I liked what Aaron Rowe did in the 10 minutes or so he was on.

To take no points from this encounter was mightily disappointing but we did not deserve any better return from such a poor performance against a team that in the first half looked there for the taking.

,…………………………….

Well before 3 o’clock 600+ County fans were already trying to make the best of the Holker Street `improvements` that left this goodly number crammed uncomfortably in an area hardly fit to house them- some peering helplessly for a glimpse of play from behind obstructing pillars etc.

We thought it a relief that the game soon started but it was 5 minutes before either side could summon up a shot and when it came Garner`s effort flew wide for Barrow. For some reason a corner was given for this the action ending with Canavan missing the target with a header.

This was not good to watch and another 6 minutes elapsed before anything of note transpired as Collar and Hippolyte sought to capitalise on a mistake by Gotts , only to be thwarted by keeper Paul Farman.

Neither side looked likely to pierce the others defences at this point, as County`s inability to avoid giving free kicks away was thankfully matched by the poor quality of Barrow`s free kicks.

Brough made a hopeful run for our hosts on 17 minutes only to be policed well by Knoyle.

The quality of County`s corners would prove not to be that great also, foundering on the twin tower of beanpoles McClelland and Canavan and there hangs another tale as throughout the game we kept pinging high balls onto the duo`s heads with predictable results.

That said the 27 th minute offered hope as we were awarded a free kick in a fairly decent position. It was well within Hussey`s range in fact but his kick whistled inches over the angle of bar and post.

Camps had a dip not long after but missed the target by a bit, but it showed willing!

Not a great deal of note happened from this point until half time- Gotts might have taken advantage of a slip by Croasdale but didn`t , and that was that- a very lack lustre ….boring 45 minutes.

We could only hope for an earful from DC re-setting County`s focus when the game re-started.

Failing that, an early substitution maybe – Rydel being the popular choice on the terrace to put a bit of pep into County`s second half game!

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The half opened promisingly with a fine bit of work from Camps teeing Wootton and Hippolyte up for a penetrative run through the middle. It promised much but Farman was able to see the immediate danger off before the follow up could be cleared.

It remained hopeful on 50 minutes as Collar surged clear of Ray before cutting inside but his efforts to reach Hippolyte with his pass missed out and again Barrow were able to clear their lines.

The 51 st minute saw the locals get a touch excited as ex Hatter Elliott Newby received the ball deep in County territory. It was a chance ( or said locals thought it so anyway) but Elliott put the ball wide.

For some reason County were struggling a bit now-struggling to clear their lines from Barrow corners- and fortunate to see Kay `s overhead effort fly wide on 53 minutes, and then again 5 minutes later when Gotts` volley went narrowly over the bar.

All this did absolutely nothing for yours truly`s BP!

County were trying to put matters right but to no great effect- Hussey’s cross, on the hour, finding no yellow shirted takers whilst Hippolyte made a total wakes of a run 2 minutes later being unable to resist fouling Ray giving Barrow a life-giving free kick.

Camps hit one over the top not long after, then Wootton`s flick on teed Olaofe up for a shot that took a deflection and we failed to capitalise on the corner.

That was disappointing, but County kept plugging away and midst one attack the away end erupted in anger as the Barrow keeper picked up a blatant back pass. The County following howled their protests, but Mr Yates would have none of it and play continued with Barrow attacking and soon enough the ball reached Josh Kay from Ged Garner who buried the first decent shot of the game beyond Hinchliffe into the net to give his side the lead.

A triple subbing by County saw Stretton, Davenport and Rydel on for Olaofe, Croasdale and Hippolyte with less than 20 minutes left to play.

Stretton, Camps and Knoyle showed up to good effect not long after but whilst County pushed Barrow back they were unable to penetrate their back line .

Soon County`s last change brought Rowe on for Wright , and the new man was in the fray straight off looking good in the process it must be said- seeing the keeper keep his shot out with 2 minutes left of normal time.

County kept plugging away but despite every effort especially by Rowe and Stretton we rather knew it was a lost cause before the referee blew for the end after 6 added minutes of pure unadulterated torture .

It`s difficult to be positive after a performance like that one, but once again a sense of perspective is called for.

County have just laid down an impressive run of victories that have made a tilt at automatic promotion not unrealistic, and (cliche alert) we have not suddenly become a bad side.

We allow DC to do his job, turn out and support them firstly against Doncaster next Saturday and onwards thereafter in the important games that remain to be played.

We do not enjoy a divine right to win- this was our turn to taste defeat and we have bounced back from that one more than once in the past !

See you next Saturday!

Barrow FC line up:-

Farman , Brough , Mc Clelland , Canavan , Newby ( Warren 92) , Kay ( Young 80), White , Neal , Gotts ( Foley 90), Garner ( Waters 80) , Ray .

Subs not used: Lillis , Whitfield.

Stockport County line up :-

Hinchliffe , Knoyle , Wright ( Rowe 80) , Byrne , Hippolyte ( Rydel 72) , Croasdale ( Davenport 72) , Collar , Camps , Wootton , Olaofe ( Stretton 72).

Subs not used : Jaros , Horsfall , R Johnson .

Attendance : 4164 ( 625)

hedgegrower

Fistly some images from hedgegrower`s phone ( including today`s `pie shot`).......