PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY RESULT

BARROW AFC 1 (Hannah, 17pen) CARLISLE UNITED 0

PROGRESS continues apace within the Barrow AFC ranks and Carlisle United discovered their county rivals are going well in their preparations for the 2016/17 campaign.

The Bluebirds took the nominal Cumbrian bragging rights with a 1-0 victory at Holker Street – a result as deserved as the performance was accomplished and the signs promising.

Only a Ross Hannah penalty – earned when new boy Byron Harrison was brought down in the area on debut – separated the sides on the scoresheet, but this was a match the home side dominated in large part.

In Danny Livesey and Moussa Diarra, they had a central defensive pairing who won almost everything in the air – often in both boxes – and goalkeeper Joel Dixon was at his shot-stopping best behind them. Everything in front of those three looked good as well.

Jordan Williams on one wing was a constant threat with his weaving runs and crosses into the area, the height of Liam Hughes on the other offered an outlet when the balls went into the danger areas, where Hannah, Harrison, triallist Aaron O’Connor and Richie Bennett all posed a threat.

That Andy Parry, Shaun Beeley, Nick Wilmer-Anderton and Alex-Ray Harvey are not mentioned above does nothing to diminish their contributions either. There was barely a false step from anybody over 90 minutes of impressive pre-season action.

It started in inauspicious fashion as Paul Turnbull hurt his ankle in a foul to the left of the area.

He battled on for 15 minutes, but it was the prudent decision for Parry to come off the bench to replace him. A minor ankle issue, he is expected to be back for tomorrow’s match with Accrington Stanley.

Carlisle had the first chance as a cross-cum-shot from Danny Grainger looped over a leaping Dixon but hit the post and was cleared away. The Bluebirds came back and Williams broke into the area, firing at Mark Gillespie, before a corner from the same man was headed on by Diarra and half-cleared to Harvey, who walloped in a stunning effort that shook the underside of the give and sent vibrations across the ground.

They were replaced by cheers as a trailing leg from Grainger brought down Harrison on the edge of the area and Hannah blasted into the left of the goal, beyond the dive of Gillespie.

For the first time they had played together, Hannah and Harrison did not take long to gel, each working off the other and moving into spaces they knew the ball would come to.

United had another effort as Shaun Miller received the ball inside the area in space, but ballooned his effort over the goal.

Hughes did to Carlisle what Grainger had earlier done to Barrow as his powerful cross headed goalward and Gillespie had to be ultra-alert to tip it over the bar.

Williams put another shot down Gillespie’s throat and Dixon was quick off his line to take the ball away from Miller before AFC pressure ended with Hannah curling an effort towards the back post, where Gillespie turned it round the post.

A Williams corner was headed back into the area by Hughes and Diarra rose so high above the defence as to outclimb the keeper, but his header went over the bar.

There was late first-half pressure from United as Charlie Wyke glanced a near-post header across goal and Diarra’s header back to Dixon was too soft and Jamie Devitt fluffed his lines as he cleared the keeper but went wide of an open goal.

AFC started well again after the break as Williams’ corner found the head of Hughes on the edge of the area and his effort had to be neatly saved by the Carlisle triallist keeper on the post as it came through a crowd.

A Williams cross after a strong break then just eluded Hannah and Harrison before the latter was offered a chance to open his Barrow account with a poor clearance to his feet, but he hit his shot at the stopper.

Both Hannah and Harrison came off and O’Connor stepped on to the field and almost made an immediate impact as he collected a throw at the near post, shielded the ball, turned and hit the near post with a demonstration of just what he could offer the side.

Dixon had to be alert to deny Jason Kennedy as the Carlisle man had a neat back-heel flick yards from goal but was denied by a superb save from the Barrow stopper diving to his left.

Andy Haworth had the best late chance as Barrow broke away looking for a second goal, catching Carlisle out. He reached 25 yards from goal and unleashed a pearler which only just cleared the bar.

Livesey blocked a late effort from Nicky Adams after a neat free-kick routine from Carlisle, his defending having been exemplary throughout.

The whistle brought hearty cheers from the home supporters who had witnessed their team take it up another level and show plenty of promise for what lies ahead.

Barrow AFC: Joel Dixon, Shaun Beeley, Nick Wilmer-Anderton, Alex-Ray Harvey, Danny Livesey, Moussa Diarra, Liam Hughes (Andy Haworth 75), Liam Hughes, Paul Turnbull (Andy Parry 18), Byron Harrison (Richie Bennett 56), Ross Hannah (Aaron O’Connor 56), Jordan Williams.

Substitutes Not Used: Euan Murray, Elliot Newby, Andy Coughlin.

Carlisle United: Mark Gillespie (A Triallist, h/t), David Atkinson, Danny Grainger, Michael Raynes (Tom Miller 74), Mark Ellis (Patrick Brough 74), Mike Jones (Luke Joyce 60), Charlie Wyke (Cameron Salkeld 81), Shaun Miller (A Triallist, h/t), Russell Penn (Nicky Adams 60), Jamie Devitt (Joe McKee 60), Reggie Lambe (Jason Kennedy 60).

Referee: Andrew Miller.

Attendance: 703.