VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE

BARROW AFC 2 DOVER ATHLETIC 1

LAST year Barrow AFC justifiably felt hard done by to come away from opening-day opponents Boston United without something to show for their efforts after falling to a 2-1 defeat.

Twelve months on and they can count themselves a little fortunate to escape Saturday’s National League curtain-raiser against determined Dover with a 2-1 victory and all three points.

Barrow’s fighting spirit and Andy Cook’s goalscoring class – two major factors which helped the Bluebirds to Conference North title success last term – ultimately won the day and AFC will argue that they deserved some reward even after surviving a few big scares.

The 2-1 half-time scoreline certainly flattered the hosts who took time to find their rhythm and to get up to speed during a first half in which the combative and physical Whites hustled and bustled their opponents and took the lead through Nick Deverdics’ delicious finish. But credit to Barrow, they worked extremely hard to get a foothold in the contest and received a huge boost when goal-king Cook came up trumps by netting midway through the first half.

Not long after the talismanic striker was at it again, producing a tidy finish to score what turned out to be a decisive second goal.

Barrow, now battle-hardened and acclimatised to Dover’s pragmatic and energetic style, held their own during a largely scrappy second period and, like Dover, they posed a threat at times – especially near the end.

In his final analysis, AFC boss Darren Edmondson believes his side ‘possibly just edged it’.

His men looked lively in the opening few minutes. Midfielder Mo Fofana made his full competitive AFC debut – as did Ashley Grimes, Joel Dixon, Neil Ashton and David Mellor – and he dragged the ball wide from 20 yards on two minutes.

Dover responded positively. Livewire striker Ricky Miller had a penalty appeal rejected after going down in the box under Danny Livesey’s challenge, before Sean Raggett clattered into Fofana to earn the game’s first booking.

Dan Pilkington fired high and wide and, on 14 minutes, Miller latched on to Livesey’s under-hit back-pass. Dixon came racing off his line and got a hand to the ball which rolled to Stefan Payne, who drilled just wide from 12 yards.

Dover found the net on 17 minutes though. Tom Murphy cut inside from the right and laid the ball into the path of Deverdics and he swept the his shot into the left-hand corner with a sweet 20-yard strike.

The visitors were on top, Barrow looked vulnerable. On 22 minutes, Miller beat Dixon to the ball on the edge of the box and helped it on towards goal. But back-tracking AFC skipper Simon Grand produced an outstanding goal-line clearance by sliding in and scooping away the danger.

Murphy missed the target before Barrow equalised on 24 minutes after Raggett and Cook chased a long ball. Raggett was ragged as he panicked, hesitated and failed to clear, allowing Cook to steal in and force the ball under keeper Mitch Walker and into the net.

Deverdics spurned a couple of half chances, while Livesey and Grand produced blocks to deny two Miller strikes.

Cook grabbed his second goal on 34 minutes at the end of a slick move. Fofana played a couple of crisp one-twos before feeding Pilkington. He whipped in a cross to Cook whose excellent eight-yard cushioned volley found the bottom corner.

Walker tipped over Andy Haworth’s 20-yard effort, and Sam Magri fired wide before the break.

A tight battle ensued at the beginning of the second period as Pilkington’s 20-yard set-piece just cleared the bar. The winger later suffered a groin injury and was replaced by AFC debutant Dave Symington. Dover went close again when, from the edge of the area, Murphy guided the ball just over the bar after Dixon had parried his initial shot. Miller and Haworth then traded efforts. On 63 minutes, Dixon spilled Murphy’s free-kick and Miller bundled the ball over the line only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.

Moments later, Fofana’s superb block repelled Deverdics’ rasper, before Haworth failed with two shots and Cook headed wide under severe pressure on 73 minutes.

A good Dover passing move led to a desperate clearance out of the AFC box. But the hosts got back on to the front foot – an 82nd-minute cross from substitute Jason Walker just evaded the onrushing Cook.

On 87 minutes, Cook’s strike was blocked before Walker’s angled injury-time shot deflected wide. Symington was then sent clear but his heavy first touch allowed Walker to win their one-on-one duel.

Barrow got over the line with their lead intact – but with plenty to ponder.

Barrow AFC: Joel Dixon, Niall Cowperthwaite, Danny Livesey, Simon Grand, Neil Ashton, Andy Haworth (Alex-Ray Harvey 73), Mo Fofana, David Mellor, Dan Pilkington (Dave Symington 53), Ashley Grimes (Jason Walker 62), Andy Cook.

Substitutes not used: Aaran Taylor, Steve Williams.

Dover Athletic: Mitch Walker, Sam Magri (Matt Young 70), Sean Raggett, Richard Orlu, Liam Bellamy, Ricky Miller (Duane Ofori-Acheamlong 79), Tom Murphy (Ricky Modeste 75), Jamie Grimes, Tyrone Sterling, Nick Deverdics, Stefan Payne.

Substitues not used: Tom Wynter, Jack Parkinson.

Referee: M Salisbury.

Attendance:  2,285.