PERFECT TEN FOR COX
TWO goals in three minutes in the second half ensured Barrow’s unbeaten run of games was extended into double figures.
But what really impresses Bluebirds manager Paul Cox is that his side has not conceded more than one goal in any of those ten games – a run which has seen them march handsomely into the play-off places.
“That’s a great stat,” he said. “We attack as a team and defend as a team and as a defensive unit some times our best defenders are our two front boys who work extremely hard out of possession.
“It was a good performance, a good result. The lads chucked a few words down my throat at half-time and in the second half played a lot of good stuff.
“We should have scored a few more goals but we have earned the right to be where we are.”
He admitted the long throw by the Stones’ Alex Flisher was something they had to prepare against.
“It is one of the longest throws I have seen in the game,” he said. “It was enormous and it prompted someone sat behind me to comment ‘He’ll be on Coxy’s list now’.”
Barrow took the lead in the 38th minute when after two unsuccessful efforts from a similar position had gone wide, Paul Turnbull stepped up for his turn to take a 22-yard free-kick and he put it wide of the left hand of the Maidstone keeper.
The second goal came in the 57th minute when visiting defenders watched a cross from the right as it seemed to be drifting wide. But Byron Harrison chased it, headed it back and the unmarked Jordan Williams was there to fire home.
Three minutes later the game was over as Moussa Diarra pushed the ball forward from defence, Harrison helped it on its way and Richie Bennett strode through to calmly send it home.
Maidstone seemed to show more determination when the game was out of their reach but all the efforts of Yemi Odubade were not enough to get them back in the game.
Maidstone boss Jay Saunders was far from happy. “For starters we didn’t think there was a foul so there shouldn’t have been a free kick when they got their first,” he said.
“In fact all three goals were avoidable. That’s the story of us at the moment.
“We have conceded ten goals in the last three games and I don’t remember a quality goal against us – a goal where the opposition has had to work for it.
“Give goals away at this level and you are never going to win games. We are just shipping goals and it is a big concern but we are not in a position to recruit. We know we need a couple of older heads who know this level of football.”