COX STILL SEARCHING FOR MORE
BARROW 1 CARLISLE UNITED 0
BARROW boss Paul Cox won’t be getting carried away despite seeing his side turn the tables on League Two visitors Carlisle United.
The National League outfit impressed with defender Danny Livesey a key figure at the back, helping to keep out his former club.
Despite picking up the victory thanks to Ross Hannah’s penalty, Cox says he still needs to add quality before the start of the new season.
“I’m not getting carried away by the result,” said Cox. “It was something we wanted, something we needed.
“It was a really competitive game. It was played at an excellent pace and some of our lads were running on empty towards the end.
“Pre-season is all about conditioning. It was the performance that mattered – a very good side has asked a lot of questions of us.
“For a pre-season game it was excellent. Danny Livesey has carried on from where he left off last season – a real leader.
“Some of the lads have set standards now and need to maintain them. But there is still work to be done.We need to add more quality to the squad.”
Barrow had an early scare when Danny Grainger sent in a cross which keeper Joel Dixon tipped onto the post.
Then the home side took control as Jordan Williams nutmegged a defender but saw his tame shot held. Then his corner saw new signing Byron Harrison floored by the keeper as he tried to make contact.
A volley by Alex-Ray Harvey hit the underside of the bar and bounced out but Barrow were rewarded in the 17th minute when Grainger brought down Harrison and Hannah tucked the ball away from the spot.
When Liam Hughes curled in a ball from the right, Carlisle keeper Mark Gillespie backpedalled just fast enough to tip it over the bar. Then Gillespie palmed a Hannah effort round the post.
It looked as if a deft header from Charlie Wyke was to produce the equaliser but it glanced the far post and went wide.
Jamie Devitt fastened onto a Moussa Diarra back header but Barrow keeper Dixon was out so quickly he forced a hurried shot which went wide.
Watched by a gate of 703, both sides rung the changes in the second half. Carlisle gained a stronger foothold in the game after the visitors’ trialist keeper punched away a Hughes header but Barrow trialist Adam O’Connor hit a post. STAR MAN: Jordan Williams (Barrow) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★