BLUEBIRDS ARE ON SONG AGAIN!
LEAGUE leaders Barrow produced a statement victory as they swept aside Maidenhead United at York Road this afternoon.
On a bitterly cold afternoon, the performance of the Bluebirds will have warmed the heart of manager Ian Evatt, who said afterwards his only disappointment was that his side didn’t score more.
“The only disappointment today is that we could have scored six or seven, and that’s not disrespecting Maidenhead, it’s just how well we played today,” he said. “We had good chances to kill them off before we did.
“We kept our width, we created one-versus-one situations, we had good midfield rotation and the strikers were a handful. Every three points is important.
“We are part way through our journey and our end goal. You don’t win prizes in November. They get given out in April and we need to ensure we’re there or there abouts.
“That’s the aim (to win the league).”
United competed well in the early stages, fresh from their 4-3 win at Dover Athletic on Tuesday night but – without the likes of James Comley through illness and Joe Ellul through suspension – they were no match for a Barrow side who dictated play and bossed the possession stats.
Scott Quigley and Dior Angus will be a handful for most sides this season and they ran the Magpies ragged in this one.
It didn’t take them long to make their mark on the game. In the 12th minute Ryan Upward gave away possession in a promising area for United and, quick as a flash, Barrow were in on goal. Angus broke clear and slipped a pass across the face for Quigley who fired beyond Chris Dunn.
The Magpies caused one moment of panic to the Barrow rear-guard, when Jake Cassidy’s deflected drive flew into the hands of Joel Dixon on 50 minutes, but, once Angus had tapped home Quigley’s low cross from close in in the 53rd minute, it was a procession for the Bluebirds.
On 65 minutes defender Patrick Brough reacted quickest to drive home the loose ball, after more uncertain defending from the Magpies at a corner kick.
More half-chances came and went for the visitors before Oliver Dyson capped off the scoring in the 88th minute, beating Dunn with a shot with the outside of his right boot after a lovely flick from John Rooney.
“I’m really disappointed,” Magpies boss Alan Devonshire said.
“We huffed and puffed and all that but that just ain’t good enough. I’ve got no excuses. I’ve told them out there it’s a poor, poor afternoon.”