Tuesday 5th March 2024, Kick-off 19.45
EFL League Two
Holker Street, Barrow-in-Furness
Admission: £18.00
Programme: £3.00
Attendance: 3,044 (168 away)
As I have neared completing the EFL and the 92, for a long time I have wondered how I would manage to make it to Holker Street, with a long, complicated and expensive trek from my base in the south-east, and with Charlton unlikely to play there . But this month’s road trip to the north of England for work took me within range of Cumbria to enable a visit this evening. It would be a landmark occasion for me, as it would mean completing my visits not only to all grounds in League Two, but also all 72 grounds in the EFL and to get within two grounds of completing The 92 - and one of those, Old Trafford, I have already visited on a stadium tour a few years ago.
Happily, and rather surprisingly, plenty of free parking (for evening fixtures at least) is available at a retail complex a couple of minutes' walk from the ground. Then having obtained a printed programme from reception and then walked through a fan zone area - with plenty of outdoor space to enjoy drinks and a burger at, and with some interesting posters to read about the club history around the walls, before entering the ground itself. Having been driving most of the day, I chose to stand on the terrace along one length, a pleasingly old fashioned terrace with cover in the middle section, and with a few wooden huts along the rear serving a range of refreshments, including one of the nicest steak pies I have sampled at a football ground! Behind one end there is just a row of seating and the clubhouse, while behind the opposite end is a new covered terrace, with a small section devoted to away fans, although this was not is use this evening.Along the remaining length there are three all-seater stands, with the most permanent structure straddling the half way line, with more temporary looking ones either side. The ground certainly has plenty of character, and I considered it a very good one to end the EFL 72 on.
A match report can be read by clicking here, also copied and pasted below
Brief video highlights can be viewed by clicking here
Match Report: Barrow AFC 2-0 Gillingham
The Bluebirds got back to winning ways after they ran out 2-0 winners against Gillingham at Holker Street thanks to goals from James Chester and Emile Acquah.
Pete Wild’s men went into today’s game with three changes to the side which fell to a 5-3 defeat away to Salford City. With Elliott Newby, James Chester, and Dean Campbell all coming into the side.
The game began with both sides evenly balanced, with neither side creating any chances within the first 20 minutes of the game.
The Bluebirds created their first chance when Acquah had his left-footed shot saved from close range, by Glenn Morris in the Gillingham net after a superb interception by Kian Spence.
Spence was next to come close to scoring when he had a left-footed shot from the centre of the box missing just right of the post.
The Cumbrian supporters didn’t have to wait long for the first goal of the game when George Ray played the ball across the box to Chester, who scored a right-footed shot from close range to put the Bluebirds in front right before half-time.
Wild’s men started the second half the strongest when in the 48th minute Spence received the ball from Acquah outside of the box, he then took on a right-footed shot which was saved well down the centre of the goal by Morris.
Barrow went on to create successive chances and were finally rewarded for their efforts when Niall Canavan played the ball back to Acquah following a corner. Who then finished off the move with a striking effort from outside the box, which rifled past Morris in the net and into the top right corner.
The Gills began to make strides in the game, with their best opportunity coming in the 67th minute when Shadrach Ogie played the ball into substitute Connor Mahoney, whose left-footed shot from outside the box was blocked well by the Barrow defender.
Ten minutes later, after creating a barrage of chances, Gillingham found themselves with another missed opportunity, when Jayden Clarke headed from the left side of the box, but he missed just wide and right of the post.
Three minutes later Clarke was on the end of another chance when Shaun Williams played the ball into him, Clarke then took on his shot from outside the box but the Bluebirds defender got in the way to prevent the goal.
As the sides headed into the eight minutes of added time, Gillingham began to pile on the pressure with successive corners late into the second half. Their efforts were nearly rewarded when Williams managed to pull off a left-footed shot from outside the box, but his shot missed just wide of the left post.
After a hard-fought battle between the two sides, Wild’s men achieved their first win since February 3rd. The Cumbrian side now find themselves back in the playoffs, and just seven points away from an automatic promotion space.
Barrow: Farman, Warren (Stephenson 72’), Chester, Ray, Canavan, Newby, Spence (Whitfield 82’), Campbell, Gotts (Ogungbo 82’), Stockton (Foley 72’), Acquah (Telford 82’)
Unused Substitutes: Lillis
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Masterson, Ehmer, Ogie, Clark (Malone 60’), Coleman (S. Williams 60’), Dieng, J. Williams (Clarke 73’), Hawkins (Walker 73’), Nadesan (Mahoney 60’)
Unused Substitutes: Turner, McKenzie
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