FANS TURN ON HEATH AS WOEFUL RUN CONTINUES
IT was a tale of two managers at the Shay – one barracked by his own fans, the other lauded after substitute Jordan White earned Barrow all three points in West Yorkshire.
FC Halifax Town boss Billy Heath was subjected to calls for him to go from frustrated Shaymen at the final whistle after a run of 11 matches without a win.
But, in one small corner of the ground, more than 100 Barrow fans were saluting the turnaround under their new boss Ady Pennock after White’s header – with his first touch 30 seconds after coming on – made it three away wins on the bounce.
Pennock has a 100 per cent record on the road since taking over last month – quite a turnaround for a side who had not enjoyed such a feeling since April before his arrival.
Bluebirds captain Asa Hall praised his manager and the impact he has had afterwards, admitting: “It has been unsettled, for whatever reason, but the gaffer has come in, changed a lot, implemented his views and his ways, and the lads have bought into it. It feels really settled at the club now, everyone is happy and everyone is enjoying it.”
This game, however, was far from a classic. For the first 20 minutes of each half there was little to write home about, although a firework set off nearby at least made sure the crowd were awake.
The Shaymen went closest – Danny Clarke volleying wide, while Tom Denton glanced a header just off target. Scott Garner also threatened with an opportunistic effort from 40 yards which drifted wide. Halifax though went even closer midway through the half when twice hitting the woodwork. First, Josh Wilde struck the foot of the far post with a 20-yard effort, then Ben Tomlinson – a former Barrow man – hit the crossbar when the goal was gaping from six yards out. Barrow had been let off but they couldn’t make Halifax pay with half chances falling to Bedsente Gomis an Yussuf, while the latter also had an effort blocked. The scond half didn’t liven up much either with Clarke having the only shot of note blocked, so it was something of a surprise when Barrow broke the deadlock on 69 minutes – White coming off the bench and scoring with his first touch, a fine header into the bottom corner. Gomis and Hall both went close to doubling Barrow’s lead, while Jimmy Dunne at the other end was excellent in ensuring Halifax had no response. Insisting he would not quit afterwards, Heath moaned: “We’ve had the best two chances of the match, but when the luck is against you, it’s against you. “It’s just what’s happening at the minute – we can’t do any more, the players can’t do any more.”