Last updated at 16:57, Thursday, 20 December 2012

JOINT top-scorer Richie Baker is aiming to bounce back from what he describes as the worst miss of his career when Barrow AFC go to Alfreton Town on Saturday.

BAKER’S BAD BOBBLE: Richie Baker and Adam Boyes can’t believe it after Baker’s second half miss against MacclesfieldREF: 50042581B034

The 24-year-old skied the ball high over the bar from two yards out when he looked certain to score a second-half winner in the 1-1 FA Cup second round draw against Macclesfield Town at Holker Street on Tuesday night.

Baker, who earlier in the game bagged his 10th goal of the season with a sublime 25-yard free-kick, said: “As the ball came across (from Sean McConville) it bounced just in front of me.

“I should have just let it hit me and it would have gone in, but I went with my foot, it bounced up off my ankle and up in the air.

“I just lay there on the pitch wanting the ground to swallow me up. It was the worst miss of my career, but then I suppose I did score a good one at the other end earlier in the game.

“When we got the free-kick I had a little argument with (Sean) Hessey about who was going to take it. Hessey always wants to take every free-kick, no matter where it is on the pitch.

“He kept picking the ball up and moving it into position so I said ‘leave it, I’m taking it, you’ve had the last two (free-kicks)’.

“It felt good when I hit it. Because I caught it really sweetly I thought that if it went over the wall it had a great chance of going in, and that’s what happened.”

Tuesday’s passionate performance was one of the Bluebirds’ best of the season but Macclesfield clung on to force a replay at Moss Rose on Saturday, December 29, with Championship leaders Cardiff City awaiting the winners in the third round.

Baker said: “We were very disappointed after the game. We were more or less on top for all of it, bar the first 10-15 minutes and we created lots of chances.

“I know Macclesfield hit the crossbar but apart from that I don’t really think they had a chance, and even then that opportunity came after what could have been a foul on (Barrow keeper) Danny (Hurst).

“We had a lot of chances and I should have scored a second goal.

“We played with intensity and a high tempo. That was probably back to the way we were playing last season when we were getting good results against teams at home.”

Next up for Barrow is a crucial trip to Alfreton on Saturday when the Bluebirds will attempt to haul themselves off the bottom of the Blue Square Bet Premier table.

Baker said: “It’s a big game at Alfreton. We need to go there and can’t lose, and, if anything, get three points.”

First published at 16:17, Thursday, 20 December 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk