Last updated at 14:47, Wednesday, 11 January 2012

WOLVES manager Mick McCarthy, Blackpool boss Ian Holloway and scouts from, amongst others, Sunderland, Southampton and Rangers were all rumoured to be at Highbury last night watching Fleetwood’s £1m-rated striker Jamie Vardy.

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And while non-league football’s hottest property didn’t disappoint with two goals in a 4-1 home win, those in attendance will not have failed to notice another young player, namely Joe Jackson.

The Barrow-born 18-year-old loan striker came off the bench to produce an outstanding debut for his hometown club, scoring once, hitting the woodwork, and going close on another occasion.

Jackson’s all-action 33-minute display was the highlight for the 300-or-so travelling Bluebirds supporters on an otherwise miserable night by the seaside.

Having thumped the Cod Army 4-0 at Holker Street back in August, Barrow were hoping to become the first team this season to complete the double over the Conference title favourites.

That, however, looked unlikely from as early as the fifth minute when the home side took the lead.

From then on Fleetwood’s expensively-assembled array of talent went on to outplay Barrow, who were second-best in all departments.

Despite going 3-0 down, the battling Bluebirds never gave up and deservedly pulled a goal back through Jackson with just over 20 minutes to go.

But, in truth, the eventual 4-1 scoreline was a fair reflection of a game dictated by the hosts.

Barrow made two changes to the side that beat Darlington 3-0 at home on Saturday, with 21-year-old debutant Alex-Ray Harvey – like Jackson, a loan signing from Burnley – preferred to Andy Ferrell in central midfield and fit-again winger Jack Mackreth replacing the injured James Owen.

Fleetwood grabbed a crucial early advantage when Vardy burst into space down the left and fizzed in a low cross. Barrow keeper Danny Hurst threw himself towards the edge of his six-yard box and pushed at the ball. Unfortunately it went straight to the feet of Peter Till, who tapped-in from close-range.

The Bluebirds, playing a 4-3-3 formation, tried to respond and a shot from striker Andy Cook was blocked inside the box by some desperate home defending.

It was the slick home team, however, who continued to dominate, their players zipping the ball about with real intent.

Dangerous right winger Till had a shot blocked on 11 minutes, before the same player stung the palms of Hurst with another effort at goal.

Barrow then began to settle into the game and a long-range half-volley from Cook forced Scott Davies into a save. Moments later, a through ball from Harvey released Adam Boyes, but Barrow’s top-scorer was unable to capitalise.

At the back, however, the Bluebirds continued to face problems against dangerman Vardy, who was constantly drifting onto Fleetwood’s left flank.

And it was down that wing that Vardy broke again on 31 minutes, cutting inside and firing a low shot towards the near bottom corner. Thankfully for the visitors, Hurst got down and made an excellent one-handed save.

Six minutes later, after Barrow had given away possession, Fleetwood’s Andy Mangan lashed a long-range effort over the bar.

The game then entered a bit of a lull, with the half’s only other incident of note being a yellow card for Bluebirds skipper Phil Bolland, who slid in from behind on Danny Rose.

With the half-time whistle, the most-vocal of the home fans switched to the opposite end of the ground, leaving behind the Barrow supporters, whom they had exchanged chants with throughout the first 45 minutes.

Despite their team trailing on the pitch, the Bluebirds fans had out-sung their rivals from across Morecambe Bay, with home captain, and former Barrow favourite, Steve McNulty coming in for bucket-loads of stick.

Fleetwood doubled their lead three minutes after half-time when Vardy, who appeared to be in an offside position, brought the ball down on his chest and fired it into the top corner from 12 yards out.

Barrow missed a golden chance to pull one back almost immediately when a toe-poke from Boyes, who had capitalised on a mix-up between home keeper Davies and Alan Goodall, went wide. Cook managed to keep the ball in play but had it taken off his toe by keeper Davies.

It was to prove a costly miss as on 54 minutes right-back Shaun Beeley scampered forward and crossed for Rose, who swept the ball into the net from 10 yards out.

The Bluebirds then introduced Jackson in place of Cook on 57 minutes, while Fleetwood brought on their latest big-name signing, former Wrexham midfielder Lee Fowler.

Despite trailing by three goals, battling Barrow refused to lie down and on 65 minutes Paul Smith fired narrowly over from 25 yards out.

Then, on 70 minutes, Jackson pounced for a debut goal he will remember rest of his life. It came when Davies failed to hold a high free-kick under pressure from Danny Hone and his own team-mate McNulty, and Jackson tapped-in from close range.

As Barrow pushed on for another goal, the hosts began to hit them on the break, with Vardy and Magno Vieira both fluffing their lines when going one-on-one with Hurst.

Vardy, however, was less wasteful on 86 minutes when he raced down the left and slid the ball under Hurst from the tightest of angles to make it 4-1.

Jackson struck the post with a fine header and volleyed another acrobatic effort over the bar in the closing stages.

He, just like Vardy, looks to have a very bright future in football.

First published at 13:09, Wednesday, 11 January 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk