DOS FIRES A STEARN WARNING
Hitman Ross won’t come cheap
ROSS STEARN came closer than anyone to finally putting an end to Barrow’s brilliant run – and showed exactly why Eastleigh must do considerably better than the £10,000 they offered for him the night before. The Sutton winger, 26, has excelled this season and was in fine form again but he couldn’t quite find the finish to consign Paul Cox’s side to their first loss since mid-August. Gander Green Lane is fast becoming a graveyard for the National League’s promotion contenders with Forest Green, Macclesfield, Tranmere and Dagenham all coming a cropper in south-west London. Barrow had their chances too but both managers weren’t upset that they failed to find a way through. Sutton boss Paul Doswell said: “Ross on another day could have scored a few, he showed what a good player he is. “We had an offer for him late last night, which wasn’t ideal time-wise. We have knocked it back but he didn’t let the situation play on his mind. “It was a very competitive game and Barrow will be there or thereabouts, they’re a good side who haven't lost in months. We’ve done well here against the clubs right up there. “In the first half we were by far the better side, we must have had seven chances but in the second half it evened right up. It’s hard when the ball is constantly in the air but we’re on a good run ourselves at the moment.” Doswell’s counterpart Cox believes Sutton’s artificial pitch may be behind their strong home form. “We knew how difficult this was going to be – look at the sides who have walked away from Sutton with nothing to show for it already,” the Holker Street boss said. “I can see why they have struggled and Sutton are a really good side. The 3G is a big advantage for clubs who know how to play on it, we tried to prepare as well as we could by training on it in the week but they didn’t surprise us. “It took us plenty of time to acclimatise but we finished the game the stronger – we’ve not lost our proud unbeaten run which now stretches
back 16 games.”
Stearn stole the show in the first half and had any of the midfielder’s four chances hit the net then United could have added Barrow to their list of victims.
He hit the post after going narrowly wide twice, also forcing Joel Dixon into a great save, but the chance of the first half belonged to Barrow with time added on nearing.
Predictably from a set piece, Jordan Willams’ centre was nodded back well by defender Danny Livesey. Ross Hannah was perfectly placed but he hadn’t banked on Simon Downer smothering his well-hit shot on the line.
The away side had most of the ball after the break but a winner would have been unjust. “A point was fair,” added Cox. “We’ve done a lot of travelling of late so it will be nice to get back on home soil.” Indeed, despite dropping points, Cox believes the club can make a genuine play for promotion if they start turning some of their away points in victories. Although strong at home, the Bluebirds’ last victory on the road came back in mid-September, at Lincoln City. Cox added: “If we can start turning one point into three away from Holker Street I really think we can maintain our position. “We know we will probably take the majority of our home points, but away it’s different. We now need to turn some of these draws into wins if we are going to serious about promotion.”