STOCKPORT COUNTY 2

[Sarcevic 49, Madden 70]

BARROW 3

[Gordon 6, Whitfield 20, Waters 34]


PETE Wild got his reign as Barrow boss off to a dream start with a thrilling 3-2 victory at newly-promoted Stockport.

Last season’s National League champions County were blown away in the first half, but they rallied after the break and gave the Bluebirds some frights late on.

However, the Bluebirds stood strong and secured themselves an confidence-boosting opening to the 2022/23 campaign.

It was a near totally new-look Bluebirds outfit which was revealed on the pre-match teamsheet an hour before kick-off at a resplendent Edgeley Park.

New gaffer Wild had SEVEN debut boys in his maiden starting XI, namely Sam McClelland, Billy Waters, Harrison Neal, Sam Foley, Tyrell Warren, George Ray and ex-Stockport man Ben Whitfield.

The atmosphere was electric just prior to kick-off, with Stockport having returned to the EFL after 11 long years away, while the Bluebirds’ faithful behind the goal totalled around 1,000.

The travelling supporters were almost rejoicing barely 30 seconds into the game.

Warren found himself bearing down on goal, only to fire a crisp shot straight at ‘keeper Ben Hinchliffe from the edge of the box.

The visiting fans were in dreamland after only six minutes.

Joshua Gordon fired the Bluebirds ahead spectacularly, slamming home low from 25 yards after he’d taken a short pass from Whitfield.

It was a perfect start for Barrow, and though a mini-storm followed during the next 15 minutes from Stockport, Wild’s men weathered it comfortably.

The visitors doubled their lead in the 20th minute with an equally impressive strike.

This time Whitfield pounced from a tight angle after he latched on to Waters’ timely through-pass.

The Bluebirds were rampant now, and two minutes later an unmarked Gordon headed wastefully into the side-netting as they almost notched a third.

There was no mistake in the 34th minute when Waters did slot home a third when he ran on and finished after pouncing on a poor pass from Stockport defender Mark Kitching.

Even the most passionate Barrow fan couldn’t have possibly dreamed of a much better first 45 minutes of the new campaign, but there it was, the Bluebirds led 3-0 at the break.

Stockport boss Dave Challinor unsurprisingly made a couple of changes at half-time, and the team responded by grabbing themselves a 49th-minute lifeline.

Skipper Paddy Madden fired in a low cross to the near post, where Antoni Sarcevic poked home past Paul Farman.

The hosts were buoyed, and now began to exert some purposeful pressure on Barrow.

Debutant Kyle Wootton fired over from a good position, though the Bluebirds’ back-line remained generally solid.

Stockport hauled themselves back to 3-2 with 20 minutes to go when Madden headed home Macauley Southam-Hales’ cross, and now it really was ‘game on’ again.

Farman was brilliant in keeping Fraser Horsfall’s point-blank header out, but time appeared to be running out for Stockport.

Sub Josh Kay tested Hinchliffe with three minutes left, then there was a huge scare in stoppage time when referee Ollie Yates initially gave a penalty to Stockport after Niall Canavan’s handball, only to change his mind after spotting an offside flag.