Last updated 12:00, Wednesday, 23 July 2008

AFC FRIENDLY

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LATE SHOW: Paul Tait made some impact from the bench REF: 0440761

Lancaster City

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Barrow AFC

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CHRIS Thompson spared the Bluebirds’ blushes with a late equaliser at the Giant Axe ground last night.

Friendly or not, this would have been a disheartening defeat against a City side now three bites further down the food chain.

First half you would have been hard pressed to know which was the Conference side.

Second half was better for the visitors who shook off their lethargy and created plenty of chances, Thompson finally firing home from 15 yards on 88 minutes.

This was a classic glass half-full or glass half-empty scenario for the 80 or so travelling fans at the end.

Lancaster – with a handful of ex-Bluebird players in their ranks – looked a useful outfit and probably raised their game.

But Barrow, even allowing for the nature of the game and numerous substitutions, were not in as much control as they should have been.

Still it is early days with match fitness the name of the game. The Bluebirds undoubtedly have quality players in their ranks while some have still to prove themselves.

With Darren Sheridan back directing on the sidelines, joint AFC manager Dave Bayliss got his first taste of action for yonks, skipper Paul Jones and leading scoring Nick Rogan both out through injury.

A neat Lee Hunt and Paul Brown combination saw Jason Walker chip narrowly over and then Andy Bond had a shot cleared off the line by Guy Heffernan.

Bond should have given the Bluebirds the lead from close range after Walker and Matt Henney had unsettled the defence but his shot was weak and saved by Mark Thornley.

Instead it was the home side who went ahead on 29 minutes as Barrow lost possession in midfield Paul Fildes – a new signing from Kendal – struck a crisp shot from outside the area just inside Tim Deasy’s far post.

Bayliss got in a desperate clearance to a low Aaron Helliwell cross and his frustration came out in an abusive verbal blast at the referee after conceding a foul. Neil Marshall almost made it 2-0 as his free-kick flashed just past the post.

Then Deasy – like Bayliss – was lucky to escape a booking at the very least for bringing down Mike Rushton just outside the box. This time Fildes curled the free-kick into the side netting.

Barrow came out with renewed purpose after the interval, Walker flashing a header wide from a Mark Boyd corner. Hunt did well to dispossess a defender and break clear but hit the post when one-on-one with Thornley.

The former Rhyl man then headed a Lee Woodyatt cross wide before making way in one of several substitutions on and around the hour mark.

Boyd whipped a free kick narrowly over while at the other end Workington triallist keeper Aaron Taylor got down well to a Mike Stringfellow shot.

A neat one-two with Paul Tait left Boyd to measure a shot which Thornley palmed away.

His counterpart Taylor then came out quickly to block Fildes as he raced onto a through ball.

Tait dragged a low left foot shot narrowly wide and the energetic Ashley Winn almost converted a Henney cross at the near post.

The latter then became involved in an unseemly incident with Tom Entwhistle, who slid in late and got the only booking for not retreating at the subsequent free-kick.

People say don’t read too much into friendlies, but Thompson’s late equaliser saved Barrow from a second successive scoreless reverse following the Morecambe game.

And after last night’s game Sheridan admitted he was not happy with the performance.

He said: “I didn’t think we played well at all first half. Second half was better but but there’s still alot of work to be done.

“We need a bit more sharpness, a bit more fight. I know it’s pre-season, but we want alot more determination.

“I thought we were very lackadaisical at times. They were the better side in the first half although we had chances early on to go two or three up.

“You don’t take your chances and they are still in the game. We worked harder second half and deserved the goal.

“The lads who came on livened the game up. No disrespect, on our promotion form we should be coming here and beating Lancaster.

“But to be fair to Lancaster they showed alot tonight. Some of our lads have got to sort their heads out if want to stay in the team.”

Lancaster: Mark Thornley, Neil Uberschar, Neil Marshall, Guy Heffernan, Scott Greenwood, Michael Stringfellow, Mike Rushton, Tom Entwistle, Mark Jackson, Paul Fildes, Aaron Helliwell. Subs used: Steven Cudworth, Jimmy Love, Craig Redhead, Paul Rigby.

Barrow: Tim Deasy, Lee Woodyatt, Jamie Burns, Dave Bayliss, Steve McNulty, Matt Henney, Andrew Bond, Mark Boyd, Lee Hunt, Jason Walker, Paul Brown. Subs used: Mike Pearson, Ashley Winn, Paul Tait, Ryan Elderton, Chirs Thompson, Aaron Taylor.

Referee: Ian Gittins

Attendance: Around 150