EMIRATES FA CUP SECOND ROUND

BRISTOL ROVERS 1 (Gaffney 10) BARROW AFC 2 (Harrison 16, 62)

THIS Barrow AFC side keep on making history – and Bristol Rovers are just the latest team to fall victim.

A first away win at a Football League club in the Bluebirds’ non-league history, a first win at Bristol Rovers since the club was formed – it was a day for the ages at the Memorial Stadium.

Byron Harrison was the two-goal hero for Paul Cox’s mighty machine – now 22 matches unbeaten in all competitions, and who thought that record would withstand a trip to Football League opponents?

Harrison netted once in each half as Barrow came back from behind following Rory Gaffney’s opener for the Pirates – producing one of the shocks of the round and setting up a potential big third-round tie with a Premier League big gun.

For those 374 who made the trip to support AFC, this was a day they will never forget, one where they sang their hearts out throughout and where their team lived up to every hope and expectation.

It did not take long for Barrow to show the Gas they were in for a hard afternoon as Danny Livesey came in with a strong challenge on Luke James on halfway, earning a talking to and the ire of the home support.

Rovers did not seem unsettled and took an early lead as Lee Brown was found in space down the left, able to run into the area and fire off a shot past Tim Erlandsson which rattled the far post and came back to him.

His second effort was heading off-target, but Gaffney was just two yards out when he diverted the shot into the roof of the net.

There was a search for an immediate AFC response as Richie Bennett found time and space 20 yards out and shot just over the bar with Kelle Roos beaten.

A long throw-in found Moussa Diarra, who turned and shot, but saw his effort blocked.

The equaliser came though as Harrison was played in round the back of a napping home defence on the right, used his body strength to hold off attempts by Rovers to recover and slotted past Roos into the far corner of the goal.

The visiting fans went wild, their cheers reverberating around the Memorial Stadium, and their side kept pushing forward.

Jordan Williams went for an ambitious 30-yard free-kick which was easily stopped by Roos, then floated another set-piece in towards Bennett, who connected and saw his shot saved, but also saw the offside flag go up.

James Clarke had to be alert when Harrison was almost in between the defenders once again, with Bennett shooting weakly at Roos in the follow-up.

Up to the other end and Shaun Beeley dispossessed James when he was almost free on goal. It was energetic stuff, with nothing to separate the two teams.

Stuart Sinclair shot at Erlandsson from the byline, before Harrison was in again behind a sleeping defence, this time unable to make proper contact and hitting a weak shot that Roos was able to block on the ground.

The rebound came to Bennett on the edge of the area. He went left looking for space to shoot, but went down under a challenge and picked up a yellow card for diving.

Rovers then went close in bizarre circumstances as Erlandsson attempted to clear his lines and hit the backside of Chris Lines, the ball bouncing off him and just wide of the post.

Both sides were still looking for the win as the second half kicked off.

Rovers started faster after the break, with Stuart Sinclair having one shot blocked by Diarra and a second cleared from near the line by Livesey.

A rasper from Ollie Clarke was saved low down by Erlandsson off his line, while Alex-Ray Harvey was off target from 20 yards as Barrow looked to regain a foothold in proceedings.

The attacking was all coming from the Pirates, with Barrow unable to get the ball for a sustained spell, and Peter Hartley connected with a corner, though only to put it past the post.

The hosts were dominant, and yet the goal came at the other end.

With their first proper attack of the half, Liam Hughes put in a cross from the right and Harrison was able to get in front of his man and turn the ball into the far corner of the goal.

The Barrow fans packed into that corner of the ground went wild, as did the players who went over to celebrate in front of them.

The question now was how would Rovers respond and could Barrow hold on?

They pushed for a third and a mix-up in defence saw the ball come to Williams on the floor in the area, with his effort from a prostrate position taken over his head by Roos.

Bristol responded and Livesey blocked a low rocket from Ollie Clarke before Gaffney rattled the bar with a stunning shot from the right flank.

Another chance came as Chris Lines fired in an effort which Erlandsson did superbly well to get down and save, but the rebound came out to Gaffney who somehow skewed his shot wide.

Akil Wright came on for AFC and was soon through on goal, but fluffed his shot, only for Roos to fumble it and the defence clear away.

One last chance for Bristol fell to Ollie Clakre, but he shot over. Cue celebrations and delirium as the final whistle went and Barrow marched on.

Read Paul Cox's reaction here .

Read Byron Harrison's reaction here .

Bristol Rovers (3-5-2): Kelle Roos, Daniel Leadbitter, James Clarke (Ellis Harrison h/t), Tom Lockyer, Peter Hartley, Lee Brown, Ollie Clarke, Chris Lines, Stuart Sinclair (Cristian Montano 63), Luke James Billy Bodin 63), Rory Gaffney.

Substitutes Not Used: Kieron Hodges, Lee Mansell, Charlie Colkett, Jermaine Easter.

Barrow AFC (4-4-2): Tim Erlandsson 8, Shaun Beeley 9, Nick Anderton 8, Danny Livesey 9, Moussa Diarra 9, Liam Hughes 8, Alex-Ray Harvey 8, Ryan Yates 8, Jordan Williams 8 (Lindon Meikle 89), Byron Harrison 9, Richie Bennett 8 (Akil Wright 83).

Substitutes Not Used: Andy Coughlin, Andy Haworth, Ross Hannah, Euan Murray, Myles Anderson.

Yellow Card: Bennett (38), Yates (54).

Referee: Dean Whitestone.

Attendance: 4,570 (374 from Barrow).

STAR MAN

BYRON HARRISON

On a great day all-round for Barrow, Harrison was always in behind the defence and his two goals will go down in club history.

Barrow AFC (4-4-2): Tim Erlandsson, Shaun Beeley, Nick Anderton, Danny Livesey, Moussa Diarra, Liam Hughes, Alex-Ray Harvey, Ryan Yates, Jordan Williams (Lindon Meikle 89), Byron Harrison, Richie Bennett (Akil Wright 83).

Substitutes Not Used: Andy Coughlin, Andy Haworth, Ross Hannah, Euan Murray, Myles Anderson.

Yellow Card: Bennett (38), Yates (54).

Referee: Dean Whitestone.

Attendance: 4,570 (374 from Barrow).