Match Preview | Barrow AFC (A)

30 October 2023

We travel to SO Legal Stadium to face Barrow AFC on Halloween in Sky Bet League Two.

Following an excellent 4-1 home win over AFC Wimbledon at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium, the Shrimps head into the fixture full of confidence after making it eight games unbeaten and five wins in a row.

The Bluebirds themselves are unbeaten in four in all competitions with three draws and one win; coincidentally, their last defeat came at the hands of the Shrimps in the EFL Trophy.

Charlie Brown, Cameron Rooney and Cammy Smith all netted to brush aside the Cumbrian side, with Ben Whitfield scoring a second half consolation.

The Opposition

Since our last meeting, Barrow played out a 2-2 draw away at MK Dons as well as two stalemates against AFC Wimbledon and Salford City respectively.

Their win came at The New Lawn where goals courtesy first half goals from Sam Foley and Dom Telford secured the victory over Forest Green Rovers.

After 15 Sky Bet League Two games, Pete Wild has guided his side to five wins, seven draws and three defeats.

Key Players

A familiar name to Shrimps’ supporters is Courtney Duffus, who spent two seasons at Morecambe before departing in the summer. The 28-year-old’s most prolific spell in front of goal came during his time at Yeovil Town with 18 goals in 60 appearances. Duffus was also capped three times for the Republic of Ireland at U21 level, he scored one goal.

At 37-years-old, Sam Foley brings a wealth of experience to this Barrow side. He has played seven times in the Championship as well as 191 games in League One and 129 in League Two. Versatility is another key trait for Foley, who can play anywhere across midfield, further forward as an attacking midfielder or second striker, and deeper as a defensive midfielder or centre back.

James Chester joined Barrow in September following a season with Derby County. The 34-year-old has just shy of 450 professional games under his belt, 60 of which came in the Premier League for Hull City and West Bromwich Albion. As well as Europa League experience for the Tigers, Chester made his international bow for Wales in June 2014 and has gone on to play 35 times for his country.

Pete Wild's Pre-Match Thoughts

Ahead of Tuesday night’s clash, Wild was full of compliments for Derek Adams and the Shrimps.

Speaking to Barrow AFC’s Twitter account, he said: “First and foremost, well done to Derek, I think he’s put together another exciting, young side that work really hard.

“They’re a very industrious team, the first thing we’re going to have to do tomorrow night is match their effort because their effort is excellent.

“They’re very good on the counter-attack, they get some really good numbers on the counter-attack, so I can see why they’re doing well but first and foremost, they’re giving everything they’ve got for their manager.

“We’ve said tomorrow night, we have to match their intensity, we have to stop their threat on the counter-attack, and then we have to make sure we go in and compose ourselves with numerous threats we’ve got.”

Team News

James Connolly, Jacob Bedeau and Adam Mayor are all available for selection following their suspensions.

Donald Love comes back into thinking following his foot injury, as does Cardiff City loanee Eli King.

Meet The Officials

Benjamin Speedie will be the man in the middle on Tuesday night and will be joined by assistants Mark Cunliffe and Conor Brown as well as fourth official Martin Woods.

Having taken charge of eight games so far this season in League’s One, Two and the Carabao Cup, the referee has issued 27 yellow cards and three red cards.

The last time Speedie took charge of the Shrimps was back in August 2022 where we drew 1-1 away at Oxford United.

Watch Live!

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Match Reports

Report | Barrow AFC 1 Morecambe 0

31 October 2023

Our unbeaten run comes to an end following a 1-0 away defeat against Barrow AFC.

Dom Telford scored the only goal of the night in the 29th minute after calmly slotting home following Emile Acquah's nod down in the Morecambe box.

An early chance for the Shrimps saw the ball fall perfectly into the path of Yann Songo’o with five minutes on the clock, though he couldn’t keep over his first-time volleyed effort which sailed high over the crossbar.

In what proved to be a quiet opening 20 minutes in front of goal for either side, Michael Mellon did break free down the right and whipped in a cross with Jordan Slew the target, but a Barrow defender managed to clear the danger just before the ball found its intended target.

The Bluebirds looked to breach the Morecambe defence for the first time midway through the first half with a dangerous looking cross into the box, Jacob Davenport was on hand to head the ball away to safety.

Despite offering very little in front of goal, it was the hosts who opened the scoring on 29 minutes. Emile Acquah nodded a long ball down into the path of Telford who slotted the ball calmly beyond Adam Smith from 12-yards.

Looking for an instant response, the Shrimps peppered the Barrow box with a flurry of dangerous crosses from the likes of Slew and Tom Bloxham, but the home side were equal to the threats.

With four minutes of first half normal time remaining, Mellon was presented with a half chance after latching onto a long ball forward, but his effort from the right-hand side of the Barrow box took a deflection, ultimately taking the sting out of the strike which allowed Paul Farman to collect.

Barrow came a whisker away from doubling their lead in the first of two added on minutes; a dangerous cross into the area took a vital touch off Jacob Bedeau before rolling narrowly wide of Smith’s left-hand post.

Half-time: Barrow AFC 1 Morecambe 0

An excellent piece of defending from Farrend Rawson denied the hosts a second five minutes into the second half. Smith made the initial save before Telford knocked the rebound, but there was Rawson who acrobatically cleared the ball off the line.

At the other end just moments later, some lovely play from Slew saw the forward skip past Luca Stephenson before crossing toward the back post, though the ball was overhit and rolled beyond an onrushing Bloxham.

The ball fell kindly to Kian Spence on the edge of the Morecambe area with 62 minutes on the clock, he pulled the trigger but a combination of Eli King and Bedeau were quick to close down the Barrow man, ultimately making the block.

Substitute Ged Garner looked to poke home from close range after latching onto a long ball over the top from goalkeeper Farman, but the ball was just out of the Barrow man’s reach, allowing Smith to comfortably collect possession.

Full-time: Barrow AFC 1 Morecambe 0

Barrow AFC: Farman, Campbell (Ogungbo, 81’), Ray, Canavan ©, Spence, Newby, Foley (White, 62’), Chester, Stephenson, Telford (Garner, 71’), Acquah (Duffus, 81’).

Subs not used: Lillis, Whitfield

Goals: Telford (29’).

Bookings: Farman.

Red cards: None.

Morecambe: Smith, Tutonda (Melbourne, 70’), Bedeau, Rawson ©, Songo’o, Bloxham (King, 56’), Mellon, McKiernan, Senior (Love, HT), Slew (Mayor, 56’), Davenport (Walker, 83’).

Subs not used: Pedley, Connolly.

Goals: None.

Bookings: Senior.

Red cards: None.

Attendance: 4,007 (862 away).