Mansfield, All to play for.

[Methuselah]

So near and yet so far.The players played out of their skins today.Just a pity they didn't play like that in previous games.Carlisle here we come.

[blumooncrab]

Good performance today . Near but far. April has been baffling. Pressure told I guess . Nothing to lose today - players looked relaxed and up for it. Played well. Small margins in the end. Penalty v Harrogate. Penalty given at Crawley - and Newby goal denied. Noticeable difference when our 3 best defenders play. Lack of back up in that department has been crucial I think - Canavan’s injury and George’s red card covered the bad period . I think the lack of cover there has been waiting all season to catch us out and it did. Midfield massively better this season with goals . But we need a creative player in there . We’ve been poor on the right side all season . That needs to be addressed. Up front - ok - but I didn’t think we were as effective as last year. Take away the midfield goals and the forward’s combined tally is not so great. Goalkeeper was magnificent. And, dare I say it, the pitch has not been good to us. We have some quality and can play a bit. Today, decent pitch decent performance. Overall v happy and looking forward to further improvement next year .

[Barrow Lad New]

The fans gave a deserved ovation to the dejected and disappointed Barrow players who came within a whisker of the play-offs. Our gutsy full-effort performance today against a strong, physical Mansfield side deserved all three points, the much superior shots on target and second-half dominance pointing towards a Barrow victory that was so near and yet so far.

Sadly, the damage had already been done with five losses and one draw in our preceding games in April. It is especially galling that if only one of the losses had been a draw, notably the 90th minute goal we conceded out of nowhere against Bradford last Tuesday night, we would be in the play-offs even now on goals scored!

We had been in the play-off positions since November and finished only one point adrift of Crawley who pipped us to the post. Bradford also narrowly missed out.

The massive crowd played a part in a tremendous colourful atmosphere- 5,668 including 980 from Mansfield- Bluebird fans getting behind the team, and even more so after the equaliser.

We won the first three corners, and Chester headed just over from Campbell’s corner kick in the 6th minute.

In the 13th minute, Mansfield came close with a ball forward from Keillor-Dunn to Nichols who shot over from just inside the area.

Two minutes later, we had a gilt-edged opportunity. A ball forward from Campbell gave Newby a cross from the left to Spence, who skied his shot over the bar in front of goal.

Sadly, to rub salt in the wound, Mansfield scored a minute later. Reed chipped the ball into the area to Maris who shot past Farman from close-range. Ironically, this would be the Stags’ only effort on target in the game.

In the 20th minute, Telford shot across Mansfield’s goal from the left. Three minutes later, a Gotts shot was blocked. Both Gotts and Newby were making tireless runs down the wing just needing the end product near goal.

On the half hour, Boateng was booked for a foul on Newby.

In the 38th minute a ball forward from Campbell resulted in a George Ray header straight at goalkeeper Pym.

Mansfield replaced the carded Boateng with Clarke at the break and soon the Bluebirds would be drawing more fouls from the Stags. Within two minutes of the restart, Telford became the target for both Bowery and Clarke in quick succession. The second free kick was near the edge of the area, Spence forcing a great save from Pym.

In the 49th minute, a Newby shot from the left went just wide. Foley then replaced Ray.

In the 55th minute, Telford was fouled yet again, this time by Flint, but from the free kick, Spence’s shot went well over the bar.

In the 58th minute, Barrow’s man of the match Spence did find the net after great work from Foley. His cross from the right found Spence in the box who made no mistake from that closer range.

Just after the equaliser, Whitfield replaced Stockton and was soon creating problems with a good run and shot on goal, saved by Pym.

A triple change by Mansfield in the 67th minute saw Gale, Lewis and Johnson coming on for Keillor-Dunn, Quinn and Maris.

Within a couple of minutes of coming on, Johnson was carded for a foul on Newby. We plugged away, with Worrall, Gotts, Acquah, Whitfield and Spence all having shots blocked in a five minute period.

In the 78th minute we gained a free kick near the left touchline. Instead of launching the ball into the area, Gotts crossed to Campbell in a central position on the edge of the box whose sharp shot through a packed area almost caught Pym out.

Lots of “nearly” efforts but the elusive winner would not come.

In the 86th minute, Reed received a booking for a bad tackle on Worrall, Canavan also receiving a yellow for an earlier tackle. Worrall’s free kick from the right played to Spence on the edge of the box but his shot was blocked.

In the 88th minute, we replaced Campbell with Proctor as the Stags replaced McLaughlin with MacDonald.

A minute later, Acquah struck wide from a Whitfield cross.

Mansfield managed the five minutes of added time with any further chances for Barrow.

A good season then which, in the end, didn’t quite meet up to the raised expectations of the play-offs. The fact that we were in the play-off positions so long is an achievement in itself, only the final run in taking the shine off it. However, well done to the whole team, manager, staff and board for a season which more than consolidated our place in League Two on an impressive 69 points, after previous run-ins with relegation.

[behind the goals]

It should never have come to this. One more point was all we needed.

If only Campbell had scored the penalty v Harrogate, even a point v Bradford on Tuesday wouldn`t have been enough 70pts same has Crawley both on +6 Crawley scored more, just have to take it on the chin, Pete Wild saying retained list should be out next week talking to the players on Monday.

[bluebird90]

The warning signs of this have been there for 6 weeks and bit by bit they’ve become a reality.

Missing out on the play offs isn’t bad luck, it’s a series of poor performances.

The first half v Bradford, the last half hour v Doncaster, the sending off at Gillingham , the performances v Morecambe and Swindon. All things within our control that have happened repeatedly.

Hiding behind failure gets you nowhere in this game, being realistic helps you to make the necessary changes to make sure this doesn’t happen again.

Wild - it’s over to you to make sure we come back stronger.

[Kieran]

The fans gave a deserved ovation to the dejected and disappointed Barrow players who came within a whisker of the play-offs.

Deserved my arse.

Did they deserve booing? Maybe not, but they certainly didn't deserve the positive reaction they got. To have not even got a play off place from where we were at Xmas is staggering, absolutely staggering. Can anyone honestly remember a bigger bottle job in football? I can't. No excuses are good enough, that's shocking.

This isn't a Wild out post, I'd stop short of that. But he needs to come back with a massive point to prove next season. He also needs to stop with this "it's been a brilliant season whatever" and "remember who we are" shite as it's incredibly irritating.

[Cromwell58]

I remember going to Workington Boxing day and we were at the bottom and that season if we had been relegated from Conference North it could have spelt the death of the club but we won at Workington and shot up the league, now look where we are, disappointed yes but we have been in a worse condition and come back stronger ,its all part of being a Barrow fan.

[32mile_cul-de-sac]

The fans gave a deserved ovation to the dejected and disappointed Barrow players who came within a whisker of the play-offs.

Deserved my arse.

Did they deserve booing? Maybe not, but they certainly didn't deserve the positive reaction they got. To have not even got a play off place from where we were at Xmas is staggering, absolutely staggering. Can anyone honestly remember a bigger bottle job in football? I can't. No excuses are good enough, that's shocking.

This isn't a Wild out post, I'd stop short of that. But he needs to come back with a massive point to prove next season. He also needs to stop with this "it's been a brilliant season whatever" and "remember who we are" shite as it's incredibly irritating.

You trying to get a reaction? some might bite. team gave their all, and that's all I ask of a barrow team. been on the whole a great season, get over yourself fella.

[Mark Johnson]

A change in mentality is needed next season. We are now an established L2 club. Will next season be season 5?

I don't want to hear Wild say 'we are only Barrow' alluding we are a small club. Any team with the right mentality can do well in this league and I think we were too frail and too weak in the 2nd half of the season.

I also think we need to be more physical, ugly and learn how to win in and draw in different ways. Too many teams figured us out and we need a squad that is capable of winning in different ways

[Jim]

Mansfield's record over the last 3 seasons shows how we have to persevere:

2021-22 - Finished 7th, lost the playoff final 3-0 to Port vale
2022-23 - went backwards, in a way, finishing in 8th place, missing the playoffs on goal difference
2023-24 - Promotion

[olbarrafancumbak]

Obvious that you weren’t there when we had 500-900 at home in the p1ssing rain , I clap at how far we’ve come.

My first real season watching barrow was during edmos first season. So yeah pal I’ve seen a lot

Seen alot... it's frustrating mate but bloody hell, you ain't seen nothing compared to the good folks on ere..!

[blue nige]

Mansfield's record over the last 3 seasons shows how we have to persevere:

2021-22 - Finished 7th, lost the playoff final 3-0 to Port vale
2022-23 - went backwards, in a way, finishing in 8th place, missing the playoffs on goal difference
2023-24 - Promotion

Yeah I was reading about Mansfield the other day and when the owners took over they had gates of around 3,000 and gradually the support grew ,as long as we keep things on an even keel I'm sure we can emulate them !

[Kieran]

Deserved my arse.

Did they deserve booing? Maybe not, but they certainly didn't deserve the positive reaction they got. To have not even got a play off place from where we were at Xmas is staggering, absolutely staggering. Can anyone honestly remember a bigger bottle job in football? I can't. No excuses are good enough, that's shocking.

This isn't a Wild out post, I'd stop short of that. But he needs to come back with a massive point to prove next season. He also needs to stop with this "it's been a brilliant season whatever" and "remember who we are" shite as it's incredibly irritating.

You trying to get a reaction?

No, I'm giving my thoughts and expressing my disappointment at the way the season has ended. I thought that was the point in this place?

If you're happy to gloss over the second half of the season knock yourself out, doesn't mean we all have to. That's how people and opinions work. So nah, I won't get over myself if its ok with you.

[Main Stand SeasonTct]

The fans gave a deserved ovation to the dejected and disappointed Barrow players who came within a whisker of the play-offs.

Deserved my arse.

Did they deserve booing? Maybe not, but they certainly didn't deserve the positive reaction they got. To have not even got a play off place from where we were at Xmas is staggering, absolutely staggering. Can anyone honestly remember a bigger bottle job in football? I can't. No excuses are good enough, that's shocking.

This isn't a Wild out post, I'd stop short of that. But he needs to come back with a massive point to prove next season. He also needs to stop with this "it's been a brilliant season whatever" and "remember who we are" shite as it's incredibly irritating.

The team and the management lads deserved that ovation as they gave their all today. Overall the club have progressed and moved forward both on and off the field. this season Unfortunately we didn’t make the play offs. It does however mean that Pete wild and Iain Wood can begin the plans for next season on Monday morning. Being in the play offs would have delayed that two weeks minimum. It could be a blessing In disguise

[mulholland]

Dust still settling and we're all still emotionally affected by the whole season I get that, but come on Kieran questioning the crowds response to that effort today? Are you a supporter or a cynic?
Anyway it was won and lost on the field of play certainly not the terraces, brilliant atmosphere today we did our part that's for sure.
Think Wild's got to come in for some form of criticism even if he won't let Adam ask him anything verging on the negative side of his tactics. He and he alone must've thought Acquah would offer us something Stockton could not today. Like others on here finding some of his responses to reasonable questions a bit juvenile at times.
We don't shoot nearly enough and therefore don't score nearly enough. It's as simple as that.
If he wasn't so stubborn and changed our style to a flat back four in even a few of the last games we'd have finished in a play off position imo. Newby's a very good attacking player. A defender he isn't.