Barrow AFC may have been made to wait, but defender Sam Hird believes the team will come up with the right response when the Bluebirds finally returns to action this week.

The Bluebirds knew from an early stage that they would not take to the field last weekend after Saturday’s match against Dagenham & Redbridge was postponed 24 hours in advance after heavy rain had rendered the Holker Street pitch unplayable.

With the deluge continuing as a result of Storm Dennis on Saturday, the ground staff have their work cut out to ensure the surface recovers in time for tomorrow night’s match against Dover Athletic.

The return game against the Whites comes two weeks after they ended AFC’s 18-match unbeaten run when Michael Woods’ late winner gave Andy Hessenthaler’s side a 2-1 win that came after the visitors had missed a host of clear-cut chances.

Hird, who missed that game due to a calf strain, said: “It’s the first time in a while we’ve had to put a defeat behind us, but you are going to lose football matches and for us now it’s about responding in the right manner.

“We need to make sure that we keep a focus for each individual game and keep moving forward.

“There’s still a big chunk of the season to go - obviously, we’re in a strong position at the minute, but there are a couple of teams breathing down our necks and it’s up to us to keep leading from the front.”

Barrow’s lead at the top of the National League was cut to four points by Harrogate Town last Tuesday when they recorded a 3-0 win against third-placed Yeovil Town.

The awful weather last weekend meant both teams were denied the chance to apply any further pressure on the Bluebirds, as their matches were also postponed, but Hird insists the players aren’t focusing on the chasing pack.

He said: “Like I said, there’s a large portion of the season to go, so we were well aware that there are a couple of teams within touching distance of us.

“I don’t think that result at Harrogate sharpened our minds any further because I think our minds are sharp anyway and we’re well aware of what we need to do in order to stay top of the league.”

n In the only amateur football game involving one of our teams to survive Storm Dennis, Holker Old Boys fell to a 3-0 defeat at AFC Darwen in First Division North of the North West Counties League.

Holker were given a mountain to climb early on after goals from Jamie Edwards and Sam Knowles put Darwen 2-0 up with just 21 minutes gone and there was no way back for Kev Watkin’s side after Ryan Steele’s late penalty.