Rovers routs ends Barrow AFC's Wembley dream

BARROW AFC’s Wembley dreams are over for another season after a second half collapse saw them put to the sword by rampant Tranmere in the FA Trophy quarterfinal at Prenton Park.

Having already defeated Rovers earlier in the season at Holker Street in the FA Cup, hopes were high of a repeat performance here, with the realistic prospect of silverware at stake.

But instead, under mounting second half pressure, Barrow folded like a pack of cards and had to endure a battering, led by Cole Stockton’s hat-trick.

Paul Cox made two changes to the side that drew with Torquay United last Saturday, bringing Dan Rowe and Paul Turnbull in for Connor Thompson and Shaun Tuton respectively.

The visitors started brightly and Tranmere centre back Steve McNulty was dispossessed in a dangerous position by Jordan Williams in the eighth minute but recovered to force a corner, which Rovers cleared.

But four minutes later Barrow took the lead when a flick on was collected by Williams, who rode the challenge of Michael Ihiekwe before smashing the ball into the roof of the net from 12 yards.

Alex-Ray Harvey sent a 25-yard effort just over the bar as the Bluebirds tried to take advantage of their unsettled hosts.

Things then turned ugly, when a coming together between Jake Kirby and Nick Anderton saw the Tranmere player come off much the worse, immediately signalling to the bench.

After lengthy treatment, Kirby was replaced by Adam Mekki and stretchered off, with what was later confirmed to be a broken leg.

McNulty ended a run by Richie Bennett into the box but the Barrow striker’s appeals for a penalty were dismissed.

Having failed to produce a shot on goal in the first half an hour, Rovers then equalised.

Barrow didn’t deal with a corner from Jeff Hughes and Ihiekwe was on hand to volley home from six yards.

Another corner from Hughes caused bedlam in Jonathan Flatts’ penalty area, as McNulty was twice denied in quick succession.

Rovers went onto the front foot early in the second half, with a shot from Stockton deflecting over and from the resultant Hughes corner, Ritchie Sutton glanced a header just over.

A marauding run up field by Ihiekwe broke down and left Tranmere exposed on the break, but as Bennett approached the Tranmere penalty area with intent, Hughes cynically chopped him down, picking up a caution for his professional foul.

As the hour mark loomed Tranmere unleashed an all out assault on the Barrow goal, with devastating results.

Lois Maynard drove through the middle of the park and flicked a ball wide for Lee Vaughan. Andy Mangan side-footed his cross back across goal and with Flatt unable to intervene, Stockton was on hand to convert the simplest of tap-ins.

The Bluebirds responded with Harvey blazing a long-range shot over the bar but the same player ended up in the book after foiling a run from the free spirited Mekki.

It proved to be nothing more than temporary respite as Barrow simply became overran in midfield and defence.

A beautiful cross from Mangan was missed by Stockton – running into the six-yard box – before the same player headed Mekki’s delicate reverse cross over the bar.

But he was not to be denied and when Flatt repelled Mangan’s fierce drive, Stockton stroked home the rebound to double Rovers’ advantage.

Mangan then ended his lean spell in front of goal with a sublime 25-yard free kick to make it four, before Liam Ridehalgh was felled in the area by Luke Burke, leaving referee Scott Oldham with no choice but to award a penalty which Stockton converted for his hat-trick, compounding Barrow’s misery.

It left the loyal away following with no return for the efforts, as Paul Cox’s men must now turn their attentions back to keeping their play-off push upwardly mobile.

Tranmere: Scott Davies 7; Ritchie Sutton 7, Steve McNulty 7, Michael Ihiekwe 7; Lee Vaughan 8, Jeff Hughes 9, Lois Maynard 9, Liam Ridehalgh 7; Jake Kirby 6 (Adam Mekki 25), Cole Stockton 9, Andy Mangan 8.

Substitutes Not Used: Iain Turner, Steve Jennings, Andy Cook, James Norwood.

Yellow Cards: Hughes

Barrow AFC: Jonathan Flatt 6; Dan Rowe 6, Danny Livesey 6, Moussa Diarra 7; Luke Burke 6, Paul Turnbull 6, Jack Thomas 6 (Shaun Tuton 77), Alex-Ray Harvey 6, Nick Anderton 6; Jordan Williams 7, Richie Bennett 6. Substitutes Not Used: Ross Hannah, Harry Panayiotou, Liam Hughes, Matt Platt

Yellow Cards: Harvey

Referee: Scott Oldham.

Attendance: 3,487 (411 Barrow supporters).

STAR MAN: JORDAN WILLIAMS: Williams got his goal and managed to unsettle Steve McNulty in the first half. The less said about all of the players in the second half the better.