WUPBlog

The AFC Wimbledon game marked the second anniversary of the Barrow’ joint
managers, Darren Sheridan and Dave Bayliss taking over the reigns at Holker
Street, their first game was the Setanta Shield (Conference League Cup) game
away at Workington on 13 November 2007, we drew 2-2 after extra time, and then
won 7-6 on penalties. The AFC Wimbledon game also saw Paul Jones make his 250th
appearance for Barrow.

The Mail had an interesting interview with Bayliss and Sheridan, and Bayliss is
quoted as: “It’s been brilliant. Both of us have enjoyed the two years and we
hope we’re here for another ten years. I know football doesn’t work that way,
and we all know what happens if you don’t get results, but look where we are
now, compared to where we were when we first took over. The club has come on
leaps and bounds, it’s nearly at a professional level. Me and Shez love it.
We’re working with a good group of people, a great chairman and great directors.
Hopefully we’ve been good to them.”

As for Jones, or Captain Fantastic, the Mail also interviewed him: “I’m pleased
to make 250. I just want to play as many games as I can. I want to keep playing
until people say I’m struggling or my body can take no more. Up to now I think
I’m doing okay. My body is holding out, and I’m keen to play for as long as I
can. My favourite memories are the two promotions (1997-98 and 2007-08) and the
Cup run last season when we went to Middlesbrough. Hopefully there’s more to
come. With a little bit of luck we can keep going in the FA Cup, finish as high
up the table as we can, and – something that I would love to be part of – a
really good FA Trophy run.”

The half-time collection at the AFC Wimbledon game for Barrow Reserve team
goalkeeper, Tom Fairclough, who broke his leg during the Reserve game against
Curzon last month and has had to give up his part-time job and delay his
University studies for a year, raised over GBP700.

And congratulations to Barrow AFC stalwart, Richard Ingham, who won the Cross
Bar beer raffle on Saturday, with ticket number 308 (dark pink) and wins the
worthy prize of ten GBP2 drinks vouchers.

Finally, the attendance for the AFC Wimbledon was 1614, and whilst their were
six games in the Blue Square Premier with a higher gate, it’s not bad for
Barrow, but we have to temper this a tad, there 337 away supporters at Holker
Street on Saturday, which makes the figure a little more disappointing, and we’re
on such a good run as well.

CALAMITY JANE OR JUST A BAD ATTITUDE ON THE FIELD?
By Bill Wood

Yes, two points dropped rather than anything gained. We had the Wombles on the
rack first half and came away ahead against the wind. Shoot on site second to
make the visitor’s work. It was hard against that wind and the lads certainly
tried to make it harder.

After Walker had put us two up early in the second half, there was only going to
be one winner. Well we thought that. What we didn’t envisage was Calamity Jane
in goal and the attitude from some players that the game was all tied up.

Thommo is ok in goal, but today he looked of a schoolboy standard. Why did he
insist on trying to kick a ball left-footed when he knows he ain’t all that good
with it? The ball had so much spin on it, it even came back to goal with the
wind. Crazy. Don’t know what happened after the second goal, but our visitors
were so much ahead of us that they should really have taken all three points.

On the new loan player, Craig Nelthorpe, he did a good job and will certainly be
an asset, he has a similar attitude as Brodie which shows just how well they are
treated at York.

Wimbledon are a decent side and this led to a very good game of football. Money
well spent on the day. Some folk were shouting and booing at the end and that’s
just is not right. It was our fault yes, but the opposition refused to lie down
as well.

Away from the game it seems as tho the football authorities have gone chicken
again by giving SV another stay of execution. This is an absolute scandal by a
bunch of amateurs trying to run this game. I say again, if this was Barrow, we
would already have been kicked out of the Blue Square. I say to the authorities
show some steel and do the job your paid to do.

BRAVE FIGHT-BACK IN BARROW IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR BROWN
By Richard Brown, from This is Local London

Terry Brown declared himself delighted despite Wimbledon’s winless run
continuing yesterday. The Blue Square Premier newcomers may not have won since
October’s trip to Forest Green Rovers but a fight back at Holker Street was good
enough for the manager. Brown’s side are some eight points away from the
play-off places and another promotion push already looks a tall order.

But, shorn of top scorer Danny Kedwell, the boss was full of praise for his team
for showing grit in Cumbria. And there was special praise for Jon Main – bang on
form after a sticky start to Conference Premier life. Main got the equaliser a
quarter of an hour from time. Elliott Godfrey’s first goal of the season had
given Wimbledon hope after 63 minutes.

Brown said: “After three defeats on the trot, a trip like this was probably the
last thing we wanted in truth. And when we went 2-0 down a lot of people would
have thought that run was going to be extended. We needed to get something out
of the game. When they went two up we had to dig in and I’ve got to say again
that we’ve shown an awful lot of character. I’m delighted with the fight back
and I’m delighted with the point. Mainy is starting to show the goalscoring form
I knew he was capable of at this level. The conditions also weren’t great but
collectively we put a shift in. Barrow played very well in the first half but
the second belonged to us. We have a really, really young side and we’re
learning all the time. I’ll be happy if they continue to produce that level of
performance.”

Another own goal from Paul Lorraine put the visitors on the back foot after 32
minutes. He put his boot through Craig Nelthorpe’s centre and the ball went
beyond the helpless Seb Brown. Wimbledon’s concentration was poor two minutes
after half-time. Jason Walker doubled Barrow’s lead as Nelthorpe’s corner was
dispatched well. But then the recovery started. Main ran through to set up
Godfrey who prodded the ball into Stuart Tomlinson’s net. Later, the keeper’s
poor kick eventually allowed Main to level the scores – and send nearly 400
travelling fans home content. Barrow’s joint manager Dave Bayliss said: “It was
a frustrating performance from us. It’s two points dropped because of the
advantage we had.”

BARROW v AFC WIMBLEDON
From The Mirror

Dons deny Barrow all three points AFC Wimbledon fought back from two goals down
to claim a 2-2 draw with Barrow. The hosts raced into a 2-0 lead through Paul
Lorraine’s own goal and Jason Walker’s volley. But the visitors, on the back of
successive defeats, claimed a point after goals from Elliott Godfrey and Jon
Main. The visitors were on the defensive from the start with Sebastien Brown
tipping Walker’s header around the post. Main went close with a header for the
visitors but goalkeeper Stuart Tomlinson saved. And the hosts took the lead
after 32 minutes when Lorraine diverted the ball into his own net. Barrow
extended their advantage just after half-time. Craig Nelthorpe swung the ball
across from a corner and Walker volleyed into the bottom-right corner.

BARROW 2 AFC WIMBLEDON 2
From www.bluesqfootball.com

AFC Wimbledon came from two goals down to claim a point against Barrow on
Saturday afternoon. The home side started the brighter of the two sides and
their pressure paid off in the 31st minute. Paul Lorraine scored an own goal
after the home side had pressed the visitors back into their own penalty area.
Both sides had chances to score before the interval but the goalkeepers made
sure the scoreline stayed the same come the half-time whistle. Barrow doubled
their advantage two minutes after the restart when Jason Walker brilliantly
volleyed Craig Nelthorpe’s corner into the back of the net. The second goal
spurred AFC Wimbledon on and a touch of fortune pulled them back into the game.
Barrow goalkeeper Stuart Tomlinson fumbled a routine save on 63 minutes and
Elliott Godfrey was on hand to make it 2-1. And the visitors completed their
spirited comeback in the 76th minute. Jon Main powerfully met Sam Hatton’s
corner kick to make sure his side’s efforts were rewarded with a point. The
point leaves Barrow in 16th place, while AFC Wimbledon stay put in 10th.

Barrow bookings: Bond
AFC Wimbledon bookings: Johnson, Lorraine
Referee: R West
Attendance: 1614.

WIMBLEDON FIGHT BACK SEES TWO POINTS DROPPED
From www.barrowafc.com

Barrow had a settle for a point at Holker Street despite taking a 2-0 lead
against AFC Wimbledon. The Bluebirds relaxed midway through the second half and
Wimbledon took full advantage to pull back but Barrow were unlucky not to win it
twice near the end. An own goal by Lorraine gave the home side the lead in the 32nd
minute as Barrow broke at pace for debutant Craig Nelthorpe’s dangerous cross to
be sliced into the Wimbledon net. Two minutes after the restart Jason Walker
chipped into the far corner from 12 yards to make it 2-0. Wimbledon then seized
the midfield initiative and when Tomlinson spilled a low cross, Godfrey smashed
home in the 63rd minute. Thirteen minutes later it was parity as Main headed
home a corner. Barrow regained control and looked the side most likely to nick
all three points with first Nelthorpe with a free kick and then Walker hitting
the woodwork.