On the road again

Brian Caffarey
10:25am, Thu 10th Aug 2017

Barrow AFC v Woking
Vanarama National League
3pm on Saturday 12 August 2017

The Cards will need to lick their wounds after their defeat at Tranmere Rovers on Tuesday evening in readiness for another long and difficult away trip this weekend. But Barrow, with a defeat and a goalless draw so far, ought not to be quite as tough a proposition as Tranmere and, if Anthony Limbrickâ€™s side can learn a few lessons from Tuesdayâ€™s reverse, they ought to be capable of getting at least the point achieved last season. Barrow, though, are traditionally very strong in their own backyard, so most observers will be expecting a home win.

WOKING

Cards fans wonâ€™t be too downhearted about the loss at Tranmere, which was very much to be expected against the favourites for automatic promotion. An important plus point was that the team did not cave in after going two goals down and, indeed, rallied with Charlie Carterâ€™s fine strike. But, as Anthony acknowledged in his post-match interview, the side needs to be more careful in possession and not give the ball away as easily as it did at Prenton Park. He was disappointed, too, with the defending for the first and third goals.

It will be interesting to see if Anthony makes any changes for Saturdayâ€™s trip. The fact that Jason Banton wasnâ€™t on the bench on Tuesday suggests he isnâ€™t yet ready for action, but the introduction of Jamie Philpot as a substitute did seem to make a bit of a difference, providing the hard-working, but outnumbered, Inih Effiong, with some support. Inih would no doubt love to show the Barrow management and fans a thing or two following his release from the club at the end of last season.

BARROW

The Bluebirds, owned since November 2014 by ambitious Dallas-based businessman, Paul Casson, won the Conference North title in the 2014-15 season. Casson then targeted immediate promotion to the Football League and manager Darren Edmondson paid the price in November 2015 for an unpromising beginning to the campaign. Former Mansfield manager Paul Cox was appointed the next day and eventually led the side to an 11th place finish in that campaign. Last season Barrow fell short of the play-offs by seven points, ending in 7th place.

Like nearly every other Conference National side, Barrowâ€™s squad has undergone major changes during the summer, with some dozen arrivals. Paul Cox released several players, including Inih Effiong, and lost three of his best players to League clubs: striker Richie Bennett joining Carlisle United, England C winger Jordan Williams joining Rochdale and left back Nick Anderton signing for Blackpool. Other departures included Ross Hannah and Paul Turnbull, both joining Chester.

But Cox looks to have made some promising signings by way of compensation. They include striker Adi Yussuf, joining from Grimsby but with experience at Leicester City, Burton Albion, Lincoln City and Mansfield Town amongst other clubs; Dutch defender David Nieskens, most recently with a Belgian third-tier side; French midfielder Bedsente Gomis, well known for his recent successful spell with Sutton United but previously with Southend United; highly experienced midfielder Asa Hall, most recently on loan at York City from Cheltenham Town, where he was part of their promotion-winning side, but with substantial spells at a number of other League clubs; 22-year-old keeper Stuart Moore, joining after six years at Reading, where he had loan spells at Peterborough United and other clubs; 19 year-old French midfielder, Donovan Mahoma, an U16 international joining from RC Lensâ€™s U19 Academy; fellow compatriot Thierry Audel, a 30 year-old defender released by Notts County, following spells at Macclesfield Town, Crewe Alexandra and Lincoln City; defender Dan Jones, a long throw specialist, signing from Grimsby Town but with loans at Gateshead and AFC Fylde last season, following 37 appearances for Hartlepool United; Jimmy Dunne, a 19-year-old central defender, originally with Manchester Unitedâ€™s Academy but on loan till January from Burnley; Bradley Bauress, a goalscoring midfielder originally with Blackburn Rovers but joining from Witton Albion; 6â€™4â€� striker Jordan White, top scorer for Wrexham last season and previously with various Scottish clubs; winger David Fitzpatrick, who was with AFC Wimbledon but with loan spells at Tonbridge Angels and Torquay United; and defender Jack Barthram, a former Spurs Academy player who made 70 appearances for Cheltenham Town after joining from Swindon Town. The most recent arrival is 6â€™5â€� keeper Sam Ramsbottom on a one-month contract.

Among players remaining from last season are giant defender/midfielder Moussa Diarra, defender Liam Hughes and midfielder Alex Ray-Harvey.

David Fitzpatrick was injured in pre-season and is out for eight weeks, while Andy Parry, Joel Dixon and Byron Harrison are all recovering from long-term injuries.

Barrow lost their opening fixture, 2-1 at Dagenham and Redbridge, Dan Jones scoring. On Tuesday evening they drew 0-0 at home to Halifax.

GETTING THERE

Barrow AFC
The Furness Building Society Stadium
Wilkie Road
Barrow-in-Furness
Cumbria
LA14 5UW

Official website: www.barrowafc.com

The Barrow website has a page of advice for visiting Woking fans: http://barrowafc.com/5680-2/

By coach

The Cards Trust is not running a coach to this game. The next coach will be to Wrexham on Saturday 26 August. Book your seats at the Eastleigh or Leyton Orient games.

By car

Leave the M6 at J36, taking the A590 (signposted Barrow). Follow A590 all the way to the outskirts of Barrow, entering via industrial route towards the town centre. Passing the fire station on the right, take the next left into Wilkie Road. The ground is on the right-hand side. The AA estimates that the trip would take just over five hours from Woking.

By train

Nearest station: Barrow-in-Furness. Trains are from London Euston on the half hour, with a change of about half an hour at Lancaster. Possible trains are 08.30 (12.23), 09.30 (13.26) and 10.30 (14.36). Trains back, also with a change at Lancaster, are at 17.20 (21.33) and 18.30 (22.42).

The ground is about a 10-minute walk from the station. On leaving the station, exit onto Holker Street and then turn right; the ground is on the left after about half a mile. Here is a link to a map of the area: https://www.google.com/maps/@54.122945,-3.236792,16z?hl=en-US

ADMISSION PRICES

Seated: Adults Â£18, Over 65s Â£14, Young Adult (18-22) Â£10, Youth (12-17) Â£8, U12 Free with Adult or Â£8 if unaccompanied.
Standing: Adults Â£15, Over 65s Â£12, Young Adult Â£8, Youth Â£5, U12 Free with Adult or Â£5 if unaccompanied. Enter via E or F away turnstiles for both seated and standing areas.

LAST TIME WE MET

Barrow 2 Woking 2
Vanarama National League
8 April 2017

Few probably fancied the Cardsâ€™ chances in this match, with the Bluebirds only three points off the play-offs, but Woking twice took the lead and, controversially, had a goal ruled out right at the death.

Barrow applied a lot of pressure from the outset, with the home sideâ€™s midfield dominant. Chances came and went, with Woking also going close on occasions, but right on the stroke of half-time a Jake Caprice break saw the ball played to Jamie Lucas. He seemed to mis-hit the cross but he beat the keeper, with Paul Turnbull handling on the line. Lucas converted and Turnbull was dismissed.

Though down to ten men, Barrow came out strongly and equalised on 51 minutes through a thunderous free-kick from Jordan Williams. With their tails up, the Bluebirds had chances to go in front, but Keiran Murtagh curled a shot home on 70 minutes to make it 2-1 to the Cards. However, on 83 minutes the influential Moussa Diarra headed down for Richie Bennett to equalise from close quarters.

With 90 minutes up, Delano Sam-Yorke thought he had scored the winner, bundling home after getting a touch from a corner. But, much to Garry Hillâ€™s fury, the assistant referee flagged for an offence and, in the remaining time, Barrow themselves nearly grabbed all three points.

Barrow: Jon Flatt, Shaun Beeley (Ross Hannah 73), Nick Anderton, Danny Livesey, (c), Moussa Diarra, Liam Hughes (Matt Platt 46), Alex-Ray Harvey, Paul Turnbull, Richie Bennett, Jordan Williams, Lindon Meikle (Jack Thomas 46).Â

Unused subs: Akil Wright, Inih Effiong.

Scorers: Williams 51, Bennett 83.

Woking: Michael Poke, Jake Caprice, Terell Thomas, Joey Jones, Brian Saah, Ismail Yakubu (c), Keiran Murtagh, Nathan Ralph, Delano Sam-Yorke, Kane Ferdinand, Jamie Lucas (Gozie Ugwu 63).

Unused subs: Brandon Hall, Charlie Carter, Fabio Saraiva, Connor Hall.

Scorers: Lucas 45, Murtagh 70.

Attendance 1,326 (26 away fans).

COMING UP

The Cards have two enticing home games coming up: first, against Eastleigh this Tuesday (15 August) and, then, against Leyton Orient on Saturday 19 August. The latter could be one of the games of the season, so pull out all the stops to be there!

Come on, you Cards!

White earns his stripes as Cards travel light

Adam Leary
12:00am, Sat 12th Aug 2017

Barrow 3 Woking 0
Vanarama National League
12th August 2017

Woking slumped to their second defeat of the embryonic season in disappointing fashion on a sunny Saturday in Cumbria. This defeat marked the end of a difficult week in which the Cards travelling support have travelled more miles than The Proclaimers, however it is probably fair to say that most fans would have been feeling pretty downbeat on the return journey home.

Following a Tuesday night away defeat to bookies favorites Tranmere Rovers on Tuesday night, a round trip of 594 miles to the Furness peninsula to face a typically strong and physical Barrow side desperate to chalk up their first win of the season would have been well down the list in terms of ideal away fixtures.

The Cards were beaten by a classy strike from exciting striker Adi Yussuf, and then a headed brace from Jordan White, from two set plays, which will have left the Cards coaching staff bitterly disappointed.

Anthony Limbrick made one change from the reverse at Prenton Park on Tuesday, Chez Isaac left out of the starting line up in favour of Jordan Wynter. The increased physical presence of Wynter may have been in response to the threat posed by the Bluebirds, who fielded a line up stacked with 6 foot plus players and a clear game plan to make the most of set-pieces and the prevailing wind. The Cards retained the same shape as in the previous match, with Wynter slotting in alongside Joey Jones at the base of the midfield.

Barrow, who will be hoping to make an impression on the expanded end of season play offs at the end of the season, fielded an unchanged side from that which were held to a goalless draw at home to Halifax on Tuesday night. Their line up included a number of new faces bought into the club by manager Paul Cox. Amongst the new boys was a new strike pairing in Adi Yussuf, signed from Grimsby Town, and Jordan Whyte, top scorer with Wrexham in the National League last season.

The game started brightly with both teams looking to get on the front foot in end-to-end exchanges. The home side came closest to opening the scoring in the 3rd minute when Yussuf found some space in the penalty area, only for Nathan Baxter to deny him with a brave save at the forwards feet.

At the other end, the Cards should have opened the scoring a minute later. Bright work on the right hand side from Louis Ramsay, played in Bobson Bawling, who got to the byline and pulled back a knee high cross. The cross fell invitingly onto the right foot of Joe Ward, who struck his volley sweetly from 8 yards, only to strike the ball against the legs of Bluebirds keeper Stuart Moore. This was a big chance for the Cards, and converting this opportunity may well have changed the narrative of the rest of the game.

Woking had another opportunity shortly afterwards, a corner swung in by Ward was met by the slightest of glances by Josh Staunton, at full stretch. For the home side, former Sutton United man Bedsente Gomis was increasingly influential, and Dan Jones demonstrated that his long throw could prove a very potent weapon, Jordan White coming close to converting from one thrown in from the right hand side.

Barrow took the lead in the 20th minute. The full back, Jones, played a straight ball in the channel between Ramsay and Staunton, which was latched onto by Yussuf, who, looked up, spotted Baxter rushing out to narrow the angle, and lifted the ball superbly over the young keeperâ€™s head, to the delight of the home support.

Woking huffed and puffed to try and draw level before the break, with half chances coming from a Joe Ward cross and a Nathan Ralph free kick which was diverted towards goal by the head of a Barrow defender. Joey Jones was forced to change his shirt after drawing blood in an aerial challenge. A further injury delay occurred when the goalscorer Yussuf was forced to leave the field, replaced by Dan Cockerline, probably to the relief of the Woking back four.

In the final minute of 4 minutes of stoppage time, Inih Effiong headed a Bawling centre back across goal, however he was unable to find a yellow shirt and the whistle blew shortly after.

Half-time: Barrow 1 Woking 0

Just 2 minutes into the second half, Woking conceded a second goal. Another long throw from Jones, who made use of a number of towels dotted around the sidelines, could only be cleared by Cards skipper Richard Orlu with a looping header which held up in the wind, which was met by the head of White, who was able to nod the ball into the right hand corner of the net. The ball seemed to take an age to cross the line, agonisingly so for the Cards and their travelling support behind the goal.

Anthony Limbrick made his first change in the 53rd minute, with Jamie Philpot coming on for Charlie Carter, who had struggled to make an impression on the game in his withdrawn striker role, well marshalled by the home defence. As at Tranmere, Philpot was used in a more advanced role, closer to that of an orthodox strike partner for Effiong. Soon after the change though, White had the opportunity to make it three when Gomis found space on the right, found the big centre forward who could only head wide.

Limbrick made a second change on 63 minutes, Chez Isaac coming on for Jordan Wynter in the centre of midfield. Isaac brought some much needed energy and determination to the Cards, and soon linked up with Philpot well, however the on-loan striker failed to find a Woking shirt with his right wing cross. Woking made their final change with 20 minutes to go, Kane Ferdinand replacing Bawling, in what looked to be a move to a midfield three.

6 minutes from time Barrow made the game safe, and as on Tuesday the Cards conceded from a right wing corner. Jones, whose delivery with his left foot and his hands had caused Woking problems all afternoon, found the head of White at the near post, who beat Baxter from close range for his second goal of the game.

Shortly after this, Woking actually had a good chance of grabbing a consolation goal. Isaac played a ball through to Effiong, who showed a good turn of pace and considerable strength to hold off his marker. The former Barrow strikerâ€™s shot was too close to Moore, who was able to parry, and with that went Wokingâ€™s hopes of claiming anything from this match.

After a tricky week on their travels, the Cards will be delighted to return to home comforts on Tuesday night, when Eastleigh are the visitors. Woking will be hoping that they can produce a performance and result similar to their last home match on the opening day, and put this result behind them.

Barrow: Stuart Moore, Jack Barthram, Daniel Jones, Jimmy Dunne, Moussa Diarra, Dave Nieskens, Alex-Ray Harvey, Asa Hall, Bedsente Gomis (Donovan Makoma 87), Jordan White (Harry Panayiotou 90), Adi Yussuf (Dan Cockerline 41).

Subs not used: Thierry Audel, Liam Hughes

Goals: Yussuf (20), White (47, 83)

Bookings: Diarra, Dunne

Woking: Nathan Baxter, Louis Ramsay, Nathan Ralph, Joey Jones, Josh Staunton, Richard Orlu, Bobson Bawling (Kane Ferdinand 70), Inih Effiong, Charlie Carter (Jamie Philpot 53), Jordan Wynter (Chez Isaac 63), Joe Ward

Subs not used: Declan Appau, Matt Young

Goals: None

Bookings: Orlu

Attendance: 1,075 (38 Away)

Referee: Marc Edwards

Barrow LINEUP
1	Stuart Moore
21	Jack Barthram
3	Dan Jones
8	Alex-Ray Harvey
6	Moussa Diarra
5	Jimmy Dunne
26	Dave Nieskens
14	Asa Hall
23	Bedsenté Gomis ('87)
9	Jordan White ('90)
10	Adi Yussuf ('41)
BENCH
2	Thierry Audel
15	Harry Panayiotou ('90)
18	Liam Hughes
19	Dan Cockerline ('41)
22	Donovan Makoma ('87)

WOKING LINEUP
1	Nathan Baxter
2	Louis Ramsay
3	Nathan Ralph
5	Josh Staunton
6	Richard Orlu
4	Joey Jones
15	Jordan Wynter ('63)
12	Charlie Carter ('53)
7	Bobson Bawling ('70)
23	Joe Ward
9	Inih Effiong
BENCH
8	Chez Isaac ('63)
17	Declan Appau
20	Jamie Philpot ('53)
21	Matt Young
22	Kane Ferdinand ('70)