Doncaster 12 Barrow Raiders 40

WHISPER it quietly but the Barrow Raiders juggernaut may just be clicking into gear as they approach the business end of their League One campaign, writes CHRIS JACKSON.

Just a week after putting Rochdale Hornets to the sword in arguably their finest performance of the season, Paul Crarey’s men continued as they finished off at Craven Park with another superb display in South Yorkshire.

Raiders banished memories of their disappointing regular season defeat at the Keepmoat Stadium to notch their fifth win on the spin – in a performance which oozed class and left the home side frustrated as they were down to 11 men at one stage of the match.

Barrow made the perfect start when they broke the deadlock within three minutes. A handling error from the home side gave Raiders an excellent attacking opportunity and they made it count in the next set of six when fine flowing hands along the line involving Jamie Dallimore and Chris Hankinson saw Ryan Fieldhouse give Eze Harper, a glimpse of the line and the winger made no mistake as he squeezed in at the corner.

Raiders successfully withstood home pressure to turn defence into attack before Doncaster were penalised for straying offside and the visitors opted for the posts, where Hankinson added the two-pointer.

The mercurial Dallimore was once again the architect of Barrow’s next try with a spell-binding run from deep which had the Dons defence backtracking towards their own line and although Andy Litherland was halted in his tracks, the Raiders continued to press and Liam Harrison managed to power his way to the line from close range.

Just past the half-hour, the Raiders extended their lead to 14 points when Dallimore was clattered on the last by Joe Pickets-O’Donnell as he looked to get the kick away and Hankinson notched another penalty.

The home side were visibly losing their composure and a late tackle left Harrison grounded, before Dallimore was taken out on the fifth-tackle late by Ryan Wright, who was yellow-carded in the process.

The visitors made their numerical advantage count almost immediately when Anthony Bate planted a delicate grubber kick which was misjudged by Tom Carr and Harper was the grateful recipient as he collected smartly before racing for the line unchallenged.

Just seconds before the hooter, the Dons were penalised again and Hankinson made them pay with a long range pot shot, which went over via the posts.

At the start of the second half, home frustration boiled over when Mark Castle was yellow-carded to leave the Dons down to 11 men and Raiders effectively sealed the deal when good hands involving Dallimore and Ryan Fieldhouse gave Litherland an unchallenged run to the line.

In a rare lowlight for the visitors, Harrison’s errant pass saw Doncaster race from deep which ended when Castle came back onto the pitch to notch a consolation score for the home side.

However, normal service was resumed, just past the hour mark when Joe Bullock was held up just shy of the line but the Raiders were not to be outdone as Dan Toal scampered his way over the whitewash in the next phase of play.

The afternoon went from bad to worse for the home side when Oliver Wilkes was forced back but he somehow managed to get the ball away and Hankinson and Fieldhouse showed great awareness to give Toal the opportunity to notch his second score.

There was a small blot on the copybook as David Foggin-Johnston had the final say with a fine solo effort from deep but there was no doubt, it was Barrow’s day and in some style.