AFC players respond in style to manager's strong words

Last updated 12:06, Thursday, 11 September 2008

THEY knew the pressure was on and Barrow AFC’s players showed what they were really made of at Holker Street last night.

After a verbal lashing from joint-manager Dave Bayliss following the poor display at Kendal, the Bluebirds bounced back with a convincing pre-season win over League One Oldham.

Darren Sheridan claimed the family bragging rights over brother and Oldham boss John as his and Bayliss’ team finally came close to reproducing the type of play that won them promotion to the Conference.

Three goals, all from strikers and all of high quality gave Barrow much-needed pre-season boost with the start of their league campaign little more than a week away.

And they have now given Oxford something to think about on a night when they gave their higher level opponents no time and space on the ball and took their own chances with aplomb.

Jason Walker started things off in style when he chipped exquisitely over Oldham keeper Greg Fleming and into the back of the net from the corner of the area on five minutes.

Efforts came in from Paul Brown – both with his right foot and his head – before an Andy Bond cross from the right was turned into the far corner by a fantastic hooked volley from Lee Hunt to double the advantage.

Hunt already gives the impression of a first-rate goalscorer who, though he may disappear at times during a game, will always pop up when needed to slot home.

Oldham did strike back almost immediately after the Barrow second, Dale Stephens allowed a little too much time on the edge of the area for the only time during the entire match and firing past Tim Deasy into the bottom right-hand corner.

But an Athletic team containing nine first team squad members failed to take any real initiative from their goal, with Paul Jones and Steve McNulty commanding the area.

Instead, Oldham were limited to a series of long-range efforts which never troubled Deasy, while Mike Pearson – playing against his former club – and Ryan Elderton kept things tight on the flanks.

The signing of Pearson could prove to be a vital one in the absence of Lee Woodyatt.

Against Oldham, he linked well with Matt Henney and McNulty, fitting in to the Barrow system as if it had been designed just for him.

In the second half Barrow kept the ball for long periods and never really let their Oldham opponents have a sniff of getting back into the game.

When Boyd floated a corner to the far post on the hour-mark, the game was put beyond doubt as Jones rose to head and Walker got a very neat deflection a yard from the line to wrong-foot the Athletic defence.

There were a few more long-range efforts from Oldham, who also lost on-trial defender Steve Williams to a foot injury, but they took no reward from the game.

The same could not be said of Barrow, with both Bayliss and Sheridan obviously happy with the display. There was no need for any harsh words last night from the AFC bosses.

Barrow AFC: Deasy, Pearson, Elderton, Jones, McNulty, Henney, Bind, Boyd, Hunt, Walker (Tait 76), Brown. Subs not used: Taylor, Winn, Sheridan, Bayliss.

Oldham Athletic: Fleming, Thompson (Lee h/t), Black, Maher (Kalala h/t), Williams (Dawson 70), Stam, Whittaker, Alessandra, Smalley, Liddell (Lomax h/t), Stephens. Sub no used: Bell.

Attendance: 480.