Post
by Barrow Lad New » Sat Jan 25, 2025 6:53 pm
Man of the match Robbie Gotts scored the first goal, took the free kick which led to the second and played a key part in the build up to the third on his 150th appearance from the Bluebirds, giving Andy Whing a 3-0 victory to celebrate on his first game in charge. Debutant Leo Duru made several very impressive runs down the right wing too.
Attendance was 3,661 (including 230 visitors) with an impressive display of flags welcoming the Barrow players onto the pitch.
We made far more of our possession than did the Mariners. Although we defended for long periods when they were keeping hold of the ball to not much effect, when we did break we wreaked havoc with their defence.
Grimsby won the first corner, following a defensive clearance by Vassell from Green in our penalty area 5 minutes in. At the other end with 10 minutes gone, Jackson had a tame shot saved by Wright inside the left post then, a couple of minutes later, shot just over the bar from the left.
Farman saved Svanthorsson’s shot from the edge of the area in the 20th minute. Hume then went down injured for the first time and would have to be replaced early in the second half. For the first half, he continued as corner taker but most of Grimsby’s were played short and easily cleared.
While we were thwarting Grimsby every time they went forward, we were struggling at this stage to impose ourselves on the game. This changed dramatically in the 40th minute when a good break seemed to catch the Mariners by surprise. Swift passing by Pressley, Duru then Spence fed Gotts who fired in from the left.
We pressed on in the second half, again being patient and springing surprises at key moments.
Two minutes in, Duru went on a great run down the right, Smith firing at the goalkeeper. Hume then went down again, and Grimsby brought on Carson as substitute.
In the 52nd minute, Spence was tripped just inside the area but Pressley’s low spot kick was saved by Wright diving to his right.
Just as we were ruing our failure to open up a two-goal lead, the Bluebirds swiftly obliged with a second. A minute after the saved penalty, Jackson was fouled by Green 20 yards out near the touchline. Gotts launched the free kick into the area and, after Cameron’s header was blocked, Tyler Smith fired in from close range for 2-0 in the 56th minute.
Grimsby immediately pressed, winning a corner, Farman saving at the left post from Luker.
Another excellent Duru run won a Barrow corner on the hour which was cleared.
The Mariners then tried a 62nd minute triple change, Thompson, Vernam and Rose coming on for Luker, Svanthorsson and McEachran. For the Bluebirds, Acquah replaced Pressley.
Acquah was tripped by McJannet in the 73rd minute, Cameron heading over from Gotts’ free kick.
Khouri had a shot blocked by Duru in the 78th minute for a corner which Barrow cleared. Three minutes later, Farman received a yellow card for timewasting.
In the 85th minute, we made it 3-0. Excellent work by Acquah, Gotts and Spence gained Barrow a corner as McJannett was forced to clear. Jackson’s corner from the right was headed in by Theo Vassell.
In the first minute of added time, Grimsby almost bundled in a consolation goal as Khouri was thwarted twice from close range by last ditch defending.
Carson had a long range effort saved by Farman in the 94th minute as he kept his clean sheet.
Players and new manager Andy Whing celebrated the impressive win with the fans which sees us in 16th place, climbing above Gillingham on our goals scored this afternoon.
