FA CUP first round

BARROW 0

MANSFIELD TOWN 1

BARROW slipped to a first-round FA Cup exit with a 1-0 defeat to Mansfield Town at rain-soaked Holker Street.

Ollie Hawkins grabbed the only goal of the game as the Bluebirds fell to a first defeat in six in all competitions.

AFC were frustrated by inspired Stags’ stopper Christy Pym as they crashed out at the first hurdle.

Pete Wild made two changes for the cup clash.

Top scorer Josh Gordon returned from his one-game suspension for racking up five yellow cards, whilst Harrison Neal also came back into the starting line-up.

Billy Waters, Tuesday night’s hat-trick hero against Colchester United, came close to extending his scoring spree as he forced Christy Pym into a great save inside the first five minutes of the game.

The Bluebirds continued to pile on the pressure as they tried to break down the visitors.

Midfielder Josh Kay saw his strike was held by Pym on the line in the 15th minute as Wild’s charges were once again frustrated by the Stags’ stopper.

George Ray went down under pressure in the box, but tame shouts for a penalty were waved away by Andy Haines.

David Mojo should have down better when he brought down a cross in the six-yard box, but Mansfield scrambled the danger clear. But the forward delivered down the other end of the pitch when he stopped Lucas Akins on the counter. Kay saw his point-blank header saved by persistent Pym as the hosts were once again thwarted, this time by the keeper’s feet.

And those missed chances came back to rue the Bluebirds as Hawkins put Town ahead six minutes before half-time.

Hawkins went down in the box and bundled home his fourth goal of the season after his initial header was deflected back into his path.

The Bluebirds burst out of the blocks after the restart as they looked for a quick equaliser. Kay flashed the ball across the face of goal with no player in a white shirt able to get on the end of it.

Paul Farman’s was let off after a poor clearance went straight to Kellan Gordon, but fortunately the midfielder passed instead of shooting with the keeper out of his ground.

Just before the hour captain Niall Canavan slipped Kay in, but his strike was blocked by Hawkins.

Kay was seemingly everywhere and his most notable contribution was arguably when he made a last-gasp effort to deny a one-on-one.

Wild rung the changes as he made a triple switch to try and get back into the game.

Farman had his palms stung by Stephen McLaughlin’s 20-yard strike as the Stags pushed for a second.

Chances continued to frustratingly go begging for the hosts as Tyrell Warren’s delicious cross evaded both Mojo and Canavan.

Ben Whitfield’s volley whistled past the post before Gordon’s cross just missed the returning Richie Bennett at the back stick.

And Whitfield’s well-struck late free-kick also just went wide of the mark.

Barrow continued to throw absolutely everything, but the Stags held firm to progress.