BARROW RAIDERS 10 WORKINGTON TOWN 10

ADVENTUROUS half-back Brad Marwood was a muddy hero for Barrow Raiders when his last-ditch solo effort ensured a share of the spoils against Workington Town at Craven Park yesterday.

With time quickly running out, Marwood produced a moment of individual inspiration to score under the posts from his kick ahead, leaving Chris Hankinson a simple conversion to secure the draw on a gluepot of a pitch.

Officials had offered both Raiders and Town the opportunity to call off the game after overnight snow had led to an early morning inspection which gave the go-ahead to the Cumbrian derby.

But the clubs wanted the clash to take place with the 680 spectators treated to a tough encounter.

Raiders coach Paul Crarey’s new-look side included his three major close season signings Oliver Wilkes, Martin Aspinwall and Ryan Fieldhouse. There was also a debut for former Walney Central amateur Danny Morrow, who had signed a two-year deal with the club last week.

Conditions dominated throughout on a quagmire of a pitch with both sides battling it out in the middle of the Craven Park field.

Town showed some early aggression which resulted in them soon taking the lead when Declan Hulme latched on to Carl Forber’s kick through to score in the corner. But Forber was unable to add the extras.

Raiders started to find their feet but Town managed to contain the pressure in a match Crarey had predicted to be a grind before the start.

The home side almost got back into the game when winger Lee Haney chased a long through kick but full-back Therrapol Ritson beat him to the race to spectacularly clear.

However, determination paid off and Barrow were back on level terms when Marwood’s kick saw Hankinson first to the ball to score, but his own attempt on goal was off target.

Barrow were finding it difficult to make any further headway against a well-disciplined Town and despite some pressure relieving kicks from half-back Dan Abram the visitors scored again.

Town won a penalty to put pressure on the Raiders defence and when Jack Murphy’s kick across the face of the goal was fumbled, Sam Forrester was there to snap up the loose ball to scoot over with Forber adding the extras.

The start of second half was very much a mirror image of the opening 40 minutes with both teams, by now covered in mud, finding conditions tough.

But the Raiders forwards showed plenty of drive down the middle through Liam Harrison, Oliver Wilkes and Joe Bullock who produced some surging runs to test the Town defence.

Neither side could make any real headway as Barrow probed and Town defended, although the Raiders, who brought on triallist Luke Cresswell for the start of the half, constantly sought to find a hole in the visiting defence.

But Town forced their way back with Forber’s clever kick making some space down the right flank. Former Barrow Island amateur Brett Carter chased the ball for all he was worth, but he was outpaced by Cresswell who slid to smother and deny the visitors.

Town continued to pressurise but Karl Olstrom lost the ball in the tackle.

Barrow moved upfield again and Wilkes put Town on the back foot with a powerful drive down the centre and, on the last tackle, Barrow were denied when a kick through was collected by the Workington defence.

Every effort was made to release the pacey Cresswell and as the game progressed a long crossfield ball carried aimed towards him had too much power.

Abram’s sharp kick to the corner then caught the Town defence flatfooted but there was just a little bit too much power on it for the chasing Hankinson.

Barrow, now with their tails up, posed further problems but the visitors withstood the pressure.

The game was held up for some time following an injury to Town strength and conditioning coach Chris Murphy, who had been given a run out, and he was helped off the field.

Then with just seven minutes on the clock Raiders fashioned a try virtually out of nothing. After a strong run down the centre of the field, Marwood collected, booted the ball forward and chased his kick to score under the posts.

With time ticking down Town made a final effort to score however, a move down the right was foiled when Forrester was caught close to the Raiders line.

Raiders: Ryan Fieldhouse 6, Lee Haney 6, Chris Hankinson 7, Max Wiper 6, Joe Hambley 6, Dan Abram 7, Brad Marwood 8, Joe Bullock 7, Nathan Mossop 7, Oliver Wilkes 7, Liam Harrison 7, Danny Morrow 6, Martin Aspinwall 7. Subs: Matty Holmes 6, James Duerden 6, Matty While 6, Andrew Dawson 6, Luke Cresswell 6, Chris Fleming 6, Bradd Crellin 6. 

Workington: Therrapol Ritson, Sam Forrester, Declan Hulme, Jason Mossop, Brett Carter, Jack Murphy, Carl Forber, Kris Coward, Callum Philips, Jarrod Stack, Liam McAvoy. Subs: Karl Olstrom, Perry Whitely, Steve Scholey, Dan Rooney, Chris Murphy. 

Referee: Chris Campbell.

Attendance: 680.

PLAYBACK

SIX MINUTES: Declan Hulme try, 0-4. 

20 MINUTES: Chris Hankinson try, 4-4. 

34 MINUTES: Sam Forrester try, Carl Forber conversion, 4-10. 

73 MINUTES: Brad Marwood try, Hankinson conversion, 10-10.