Barrow Raiders head coach Paul Crarey was encouraged by what he saw from the seven amateur players who had their first run-out during last Sunday’s pre-season friendly against Oldham.

A third of the Raiders’ matchday squad during the 22-18 defeat against the Roughyeds was made up of players who have been given the chance of earning a dual registration deal for the upcoming season.

All seven players were on at the same time for one spell during the game at Craven Park, with Askam’s Mark Tyson and Barrow Island’s Carl McBain among those who impressed during their time on the field.

Crarey said: “I thought they were outstanding, all of them. Across the board they all did a good job for us and I know some of them won't get big minutes, but it's about getting our forwards up to speed.

"Sometimes we need some of our middle men to play games to get up to match fitness, so we left them out there pretty long, but of the lads that went in I thought Carl McBain's second spell was really good, when he ran really hard.

"I thought Connor Terrill, in his cameo role, was really good, got some wins for us and he's only a young kid setting off in the game.

"We were playing against a Championship team that beat us by more last year with us having probably a better side, so I was very, very pleased."

Barrow will be playing the second of their three pre-season friendlies on Sunday against North Wales Crusaders, one of the sides they'll be coming up against in Betfred League One this year.

Crarey is keeping an eye on a couple of bumps and bruises ahead of that game, saying: "Luke Cresswell had a bit of a knock on his elbow against Oldham and his elbow swelled right up, so hopefully that's not too serious.

"Tee [Ritson] went into the hoardings at the back, so we brought him off and rotated the amateur kids, but I was really, really pleased with the application of the fellas and the determination they showed."