"Two voices are there,
One is of the sea, One of the mountains"
(Wordsworth)
Well, here we are in an unfamiliar position … almost 40% of the League 2 season behind us and we are top of the table, with a game in hand. The words “Promotion” and “Champions” are beginning to creep into thoughts previously uncluttered with such ridiculous ideas, and the certainty now is that it’s entirely in “our” hands - well, Mat Sadler and the squad’s hands anyway.
Barrow started this season very positively - their first two home games were against Crewe (won 1-0) and Port Vale (won 4-0), and they also came out on top against Port Vale in the League Cup. However, recent form has seen them stuttering somewhat, as can be seen here:-
October 22nd Notts County (H) Drew 1-1
October 26th Bromley (A) Drew 1-1
November 9th Colchester Utd (H) Drew 1-1
November 16th AFC Wimbledon (H) Lost 1-3
November 23rd Chesterfield (A) Lost 1-0
December 3rd Bradford City (A) Drew 1-1
They are currently 13th in the table, with a goal difference of +1 (18 scored, 17 conceded) which doesn’t look too healthy when compared with our +15 (34 scored, 19 conceded). Their manager is Stephen Clemence (son of Ray Clemence, for our older members) and their chief goal threat would appear to come from Andrew Dallas, who practically set the world alight in his time at Solihull Moors - he now plays for Barrow on loan from Barnsley.
Mat Sadler doesn’t seem to have any new injury worries to ponder, it will soon be time to welcome Jamie Jellis back in to action - although Priestley Farquharson has suffered a setback in his recovery. I guess the only real headache Mat will have is one of selection on form, after an almost reserve side overcame Reading in midweek despite being amazingly wasteful in front of goal. I wonder whether Danny Johnson has done enough with his last-gasp equaliser to merit a start in this important League 2 game - we shall see. Sam Hornby has done his prospects no harm at all following that Reading encounter - a competent performance, and two pelanty saves!
Prediction? Putting banana skins aside, we should be able to extract three points from this match, and a predicted score of 2-0 shouldn’t be out of place. Our nearest rivals are both playing away from home, with Port Vale travelling to Bromley while Doncaster visit AFC Wimbledon. The team to watch on current form would seem to be M K Dongs, who have 6 wins on the bounce as we speak, and they’re at home to Gillingham.
UTS
