Last updated 15:28, Monday, 06 October 2008

MR CONSISTENCY: Carlos Logan holds off Kidderminster’s Barnes-Homer with skipper Paul Jones in support

CLAUDIO Ranieri was known as Tinkerman in his days as Chelsea manager.

And if they don’t watch it, Barrow’s bosses Darren Sheridan and Dave Bayliss could get a similar reputation.

But when it pays off as handsomely as at second-placed Kidderminster Harriers on Saturday then ‘The Tinkermen’ becomes a term of endearment.

During the promotion campaign, Bayliss and Sheridan stuck with 4-4-2 and virtually the same starting 11 throughout.

The Conference has seen them start to shuffle the pack here and there until four defeats on the bounce saw them scatter the whole deck to the floor.

What emerged at training on Thursday and at the weekend was a new 3-5-2 formation with Mike Pearson switching to central defence, sweeping alongside Steve McNulty and Paul Jones and Carlos Logan and Matt Henney as wing-backs.

Ashley Winn came in to bolster midfield, while upfront was a new face in 30-year-old much-travelled Football League striker David Brown.

And the new more defensive outlook turned up trumps as Mark Boyd’s early free-kick proved enough to end Kidderminster’s unbeaten home record and four-match winning run.

Ironically, the home side had themselves switched to 4-4-2 early in the season and were unchanged for the eighth successive game, the Bluebirds not surprisingly starting 4/1 outsiders at The Aggborough Stadium.

It looked ominous early on as Andy Ferrell’s sharp pass released Justin Richards at speed and his pull back was blazed over from 10 yards by Brian Smikle.

Then on four minutes, Barrow were awarded a free-kick some 30 yards out which Boyd cleverly curled over the wall and just inside the foot of the near post. It completely deceived Harriers’ England C keeper Adam Bartlett, who had obviously not done his homework by watching the DVD of the Barrow midfielder against Oxford on the opening night of the season.

Barrow had taken a similar early lead against Northwich in the last away game and lost disappointingly to two second-half goals so this was now a test of how much they had wisened up.

It also seemed to restore some belief to the side as Lee Hunt cleverly delayed his pass for the run of Winn, whose firm drive was tipped over by Bartlett.

Logan then joined the attack down the left flank to win a corner before being booked for a strong tackle right across in front of the dug-outs.

On 25 minutes, Boyd whipped in a free-kick which Hunt headed over beyond the far post, the latter then setting up Brown for a half-chance but the ex-Accrington man saw his shot blocked.

The Barrow players looked comfortable in the new system as Andy Bond, Henney, Winn and Logan combined, Hunt unable to direct his header from the latter’s cross.

Brown was causing problems to Kidderminster by dropping into the ‘hole’ to pick up the ball, Bond broke but from his pass Logan – who was relishing the wing-back role – hit high and wide from the edge of the box.

The Harriers only came back into it with five corners in rapid succession in time added on as Pearson, Jones and McNulty all headed behind, Keith Lowe firmly heading the final one of the half over the bar.

Barrow were nearly two up at the start of the second half but Brown was judged off-side after poking home Hunt’s pass and the inevitable home onslaught finally appeared.

Richards somehow failed to connect with Neil MacKenzie’s dangerous cross and then visiting keeper Alan Martin did well to get down at the feet of Matthew Barnes-Horner.

Kidderminster were awarded another free-kick on the edge of the area and after Mckenzie’s shot hit the wall the ball ricocheted around until Martin saved Richards’ stab-shot low down.

At this point a home fan near the press box was prophetically overheard saying: “It’s going to be one of those days.”

Hunt, just before being subbed, led a quick counter-attack on the hour, but the referee blew for some infringement as Brown shot at Bartlett.

The Bluebirds then had to survive a frantic five-minute spell as Lowe, Barnes-Horner and Ferrell all went close with shots from in and around the area.

Barrow again broke quickly through Winn, who fed Rogan and continued the run to meet the cross with a first-time effort just wide.

A more route one approach saw Martin’s long punt collected by Rogan who crossed to Brown.

The initial shot was blocked by Bartlett and Brown laid the rebound to Winn who forced a great save from the keeper.

The visitors then got their big break as Richards curled a free-kick from the edge of the box against the bar with Martin well beaten.

Substitute Darryl Knights tested Martin low down and then put a free header from a Richards cross straight at the keeper.

Logan got forward again with Bond hitting a low left foot shot inches past the post and Harriers’ last throw of the dice saw Richards curl a 20-yard free-kick over the bar.

Relief all round as the day ended well for those Barrow supporters, who had had to hitch-hike after the coach broke down several miles outside the ground.

Their team had also ground to a halt for a few weeks, a few repairs done, and hopefully the show’s now back on the road.