Give ’Em Beans! - Not So Great Away Days

WINSFORD UNITED 4 BARROW 3

UniBond League Premier Division
25 March 1996
by Graham Murphy

The third game in a series of four. Honours even so far. We beat them in the FA Cup at their place; they beat us in the FA Trophy at Holker St. Now for the League games; Monday at their place, Saturday at Holker St. Tonight is the re-arranged fixture from snowy January, hence its proximity to the return game. And do I wish I'd never gone to see it. 2-0 up at half-time; 3-1 ahead with twenty minutes to go, and we still lost 4-3. How was it possible? I still don't really know.

I did my best to avoid seeing the game. "You've got to collect the kids from their friends' house" the Dragon had spat down the phone at half past six. "So don't bother going straight to that football match. Go and get the kids first. I can't. I'm busy." She slammed the phone down before she melted the wires, just as I was in the middle of trying to explain that it was a 7.30 kick-off, and Winsford was 45 minutes drive, and there just wasn't enough time to pick up a half price steak from Asda, let alone my own offspring from a village some six miles away from where I work. But the Welsh Dragon has to be obeyed. No question. Or it's incineration time. So off I rushed to the car, drove like a maniac, got the kids, took them home, shoved them out of the car as I passed the house (I slowed down) and sped off in the direction of the salt mines of mid-Cheshire.

It was ten past seven, so there was no chance of making the kick-off. But at least Winsford's ground is easy to get to. Off the by-pass, up the hill and right at the top into the car park. It was quarter to eight so I'd made good time. Better than I'd expected. Free programme because they were the ones they'd printed for the original fixture. And into the ground to find that Barrow were already one up thanks to an Andy Green goal. Well, that was nice. Walked round to the goal Barrow were attacking. Realised I'd left my pen in the car and, just for good measure, dropped the programme somewehere on the walk from the turnstile. Well, I had to go back. No pen means no report (we should be so lucky. Ed.) and no programme means nothing to write it on. So I retraced my steps. I found the programme by one of the floodlights and retrieved the pen from the glove pocket in the car where I'd put it so I wouldn't forget to bring it.

Back into the ground. Bump into a couple of Barrow supporters who are eating meat pies. This reminds me how hungry I am, what with all the rushing about and no dinner. So on their recommendation I go and got one for myself. Stuff mad cow disease. When your stomach thinks your throat's been cut, you'll eat anything. Well, anything was what I got. Soggy pastry because the pie had been reheated in a microwave oven. But it was hot.

And just as my mouth realised how hot the pie was, Barrow scored again (At last! He's got to the football! Ed.). It was the new boy, Foreman, taking a break from his boxing career to try his hand (or foot) at soccer. We've got him on loan from Hednesford for a month. They got him from Crewe who paid Barnet £80,000 for him. Well, he looks quite good. Playing on the right side of midfield and moving forward into the gaps created by Morton and Green he was giving Winsford's defence a torrid time of it. A bit like the reception I'd get from the Dragon when I got back home.

A minute later, Dalken missed a sitter in front of goal and I really thought Winsford's chance had gone with that. They looked so dejected and out of it. For the last five minutes before half time, Barrow were all over them like a cheap suit. Foreman set Humphries through on goal, but his first touch let him down and he took the ball too close to the bye-line. Then Humphries returned the compliment, but Foreman's shot was pushed away by the advancing Robinson. Humphries' shot from the corner was booted clear by a desperate defence.

The second half started badly for Barrow. Harrold bundled Dalken over and the ref had no hesitation in awarding the penalty. Russell shot low and hard to Deegan's left and Winsford were back in the game at 2-1. But they didn't really threaten to pull back anything for the next twenty minutes. Then on 65 minutes our worries were removed when Foreman broke clear on goal and beat Robinson with a power drive to make it 3-1. That should kill off Winsford's revival we thought, and get us back into winning ways. But it didn't. About five minutes later, a piece of good fortune went Winsford's way and Barrow's defence were caught like statues as a long range shot cannoned off the bar straight to the foot of Edwards. He played the ball to his right to Farrelly and he made it 3-2. Once again, Winsford had clawed their way back into the game and this time Barrow were rattled. Morton and Green had already verbally abused the linesman when he failed to point out that there should have been a corner, not a goal kick. Now Jimmy Brown was booked for badmouthing the ref.

Barrow came forward looking to re-establish their two goal lead. A high Morton cross was met by Foremen at the far post, but the shot was narrowly wide. Then, disaster. Just on 80 minutes, a Winsford comer was headed on to Russell and with the Barrow defence once again playing the role of spectators he equalised the scores at 3-3. The last ten minutes were designed to give us nightmares. We'd just seen a certain three points converted into one. But worse was to come. Three minutes before full time, Parker and Speak combined to impede Russell. Again, the ref had no doubt about the penalty. Russell stepped up to take it in an attempt to get his hat trick. Would he hit the ball low and hard to Deegan's left as he did with his first penalty, to cap a remarkable Winsford comeback? Do bears crap in the woods? Russell thumped the ball past Deegan and Barrow had lost 4-3 after being 3-1 up.

Why was no substitution made in the last quarter of an hour? Hoskin may well have given us more attacking options on the left. Barrow's forward moves were somewhat predictable, always down the right involving Kenny, Humphries, Morton, Green and Foreman. Once Winsford had got the measure of the latter's lively runs into the area, Barrow were finished as an attacking force.

I was stunned. No manager, no promotion, and now the players were doing their best to save the chairman's blushes by making sure that we finish outside the top two. The way we're dropping points we'll be lucky to qualify for next season's President's Cup. Can it get any worse? (Wait for derby games against Lancaster City next season. Ed.)

This was a game we should have won. Three defensive lapses gave away two penalties and a soft header and gifted the game to Winsford. On the plus side, this was Foreman's debut. He scored twice and looks like a very good player indeed.

• After the game Graham spoke to Andy Maylor, Winsford's press officer. This is how he saw the game.

"It was a tough game for us. They always are tough games against Barrow. When you were 3-1 up I thought our chance had gone. But it's happened before. We didn't change the way we played. The substitution didn't make any difference. It was one midfielder for another, though Bishop, who came on, is stronger in the air than Boyd who came off. We just battled away and came back just as we had last Saturday in our game at Blyth Spartans. We were 2-0 down after 70 minutes, but we fought back to 2-2 and lost only because of a last minute penalty. Tonight we were 3-1 down after 70 minutes and we went one better by getting three goals in the last twenty minutes.

"Barrow have a lot of well known players who can turn it on and play a bit. I wish we had some of your players. Numbers eight and six (Humphries and Kenny) are good players and number seven too (Foreman). He gave our defence a lot of problems. But Barrow's back players weren't able to plug the gaps in defence which allowed us the scoring opportunities that led to the four goals. The news last week, I mean Hesketh's resignation and the rejection of Barrow's promotion application by the Conference, must have put the players' heads down a bit. They've nothing left to play for this season. It must be hard to keep motivated when you've been in the top six all season fighting to go up and then suddenly it's snatched away from you.

"Russell's hat trick is the first by a Winsford player for as long as I can remember. He's scored eighteen now, this season. This could be a more important victory for us than when we beat Barrow in the FA Trophy earlier this season. It should take us off the critical list as far as relegation is concerned.

Originally appeared as 'Games We Wish We'd Never Seen'
and 'As Others See Us no.2' in issue 026 - May 1996

WINSFORD UNITED 4 BARROW 3 UniBond League Premier Division 25 March 1996 by Graham Murphy
The third game in a series of four. Honours even so far. We beat them in the FA Cup at their place; they beat us in the FA Trophy at Holker St. Now for the League games; Monday at their place, Saturday at Holker St. Tonight is the re-arranged fixture from snowy January, hence its proximity to the return game. And do I wish I'd never gone to see it. 2-0 up at half-time; 3-1 ahead with twenty minutes to go, and we still lost 4-3. How was it possible? I still don't really know. I did my best to avoid seeing the game. "You've got to collect the kids from their friends' house" the Dragon had spat down the phone at half past six. "So don't bother going straight to that football match. Go and get the kids first. I can't. I'm busy." She slammed the phone down before she melted the wires, just as I was in the middle of trying to explain that it was a 7.30 kick-off, and Winsford was 45 minutes drive, and there just wasn't enough time to pick up a half price steak from Asda, let alone my own offspring from a village some six miles away from where I work. But the Welsh Dragon has to be obeyed. No question. Or it's incineration time. So off I rushed to the car, drove like a maniac, got the kids, took them home, shoved them out of the car as I passed the house (I slowed down) and sped off in the direction of the salt mines of mid-Cheshire. It was ten past seven, so there was no chance of making the kick-off. But at least Winsford's ground is easy to get to. Off the by-pass, up the hill and right at the top into the car park. It was quarter to eight so I'd made good time. Better than I'd expected. Free programme because they were the ones they'd printed for the original fixture. And into the ground to find that Barrow were already one up thanks to an Andy Green goal. Well, that was nice. Walked round to the goal Barrow were attacking. Realised I'd left my pen in the car and, just for good measure, dropped the programme somewehere on the walk from the turnstile. Well, I had to go back. No pen means no report (we should be so lucky. Ed.) and no programme means nothing to write it on. So I retraced my steps. I found the programme by one of the floodlights and retrieved the pen from the glove pocket in the car where I'd put it so I wouldn't forget to bring it. Back into the ground. Bump into a couple of Barrow supporters who are eating meat pies. This reminds me how hungry I am, what with all the rushing about and no dinner. So on their recommendation I go and got one for myself. Stuff mad cow disease. When your stomach thinks your throat's been cut, you'll eat anything. Well, anything was what I got. Soggy pastry because the pie had been reheated in a microwave oven. But it was hot. And just as my mouth realised how hot the pie was, Barrow scored again (At last! He's got to the football! Ed.). It was the new boy, Foreman, taking a break from his boxing career to try his hand (or foot) at soccer. We've got him on loan from Hednesford for a month. They got him from Crewe who paid Barnet £80,000 for him. Well, he looks quite good. Playing on the right side of midfield and moving forward into the gaps created by Morton and Green he was giving Winsford's defence a torrid time of it. A bit like the reception I'd get from the Dragon when I got back home. A minute later, Dalken missed a sitter in front of goal and I really thought Winsford's chance had gone with that. They looked so dejected and out of it. For the last five minutes before half time, Barrow were all over them like a cheap suit. Foreman set Humphries through on goal, but his first touch let him down and he took the ball too close to the bye-line. Then Humphries returned the compliment, but Foreman's shot was pushed away by the advancing Robinson. Humphries' shot from the corner was booted clear by a desperate defence. The second half started badly for Barrow. Harrold bundled Dalken over and the ref had no hesitation in awarding the penalty. Russell shot low and hard to Deegan's left and Winsford were back in the game at 2-1. But they didn't really threaten to pull back anything for the next twenty minutes. Then on 65 minutes our worries were removed when Foreman broke clear on goal and beat Robinson with a power drive to make it 3-1. That should kill off Winsford's revival we thought, and get us back into winning ways. But it didn't. About five minutes later, a piece of good fortune went Winsford's way and Barrow's defence were caught like statues as a long range shot cannoned off the bar straight to the foot of Edwards. He played the ball to his right to Farrelly and he made it 3-2. Once again, Winsford had clawed their way back into the game and this time Barrow were rattled. Morton and Green had already verbally abused the linesman when he failed to point out that there should have been a corner, not a goal kick. Now Jimmy Brown was booked for badmouthing the ref. Barrow came forward looking to re-establish their two goal lead. A high Morton cross was met by Foremen at the far post, but the shot was narrowly wide. Then, disaster. Just on 80 minutes, a Winsford comer was headed on to Russell and with the Barrow defence once again playing the role of spectators he equalised the scores at 3-3. The last ten minutes were designed to give us nightmares. We'd just seen a certain three points converted into one. But worse was to come. Three minutes before full time, Parker and Speak combined to impede Russell. Again, the ref had no doubt about the penalty. Russell stepped up to take it in an attempt to get his hat trick. Would he hit the ball low and hard to Deegan's left as he did with his first penalty, to cap a remarkable Winsford comeback? Do bears crap in the woods? Russell thumped the ball past Deegan and Barrow had lost 4-3 after being 3-1 up. Why was no substitution made in the last quarter of an hour? Hoskin may well have given us more attacking options on the left. Barrow's forward moves were somewhat predictable, always down the right involving Kenny, Humphries, Morton, Green and Foreman. Once Winsford had got the measure of the latter's lively runs into the area, Barrow were finished as an attacking force. I was stunned. No manager, no promotion, and now the players were doing their best to save the chairman's blushes by making sure that we finish outside the top two. The way we're dropping points we'll be lucky to qualify for next season's President's Cup. Can it get any worse? (Wait for derby games against Lancaster City next season. Ed.) This was a game we should have won. Three defensive lapses gave away two penalties and a soft header and gifted the game to Winsford. On the plus side, this was Foreman's debut. He scored twice and looks like a very good player indeed.
• After the game Graham spoke to Andy Maylor, Winsford's press officer. This is how he saw the game. "It was a tough game for us. They always are tough games against Barrow. When you were 3-1 up I thought our chance had gone. But it's happened before. We didn't change the way we played. The substitution didn't make any difference. It was one midfielder for another, though Bishop, who came on, is stronger in the air than Boyd who came off. We just battled away and came back just as we had last Saturday in our game at Blyth Spartans. We were 2-0 down after 70 minutes, but we fought back to 2-2 and lost only because of a last minute penalty. Tonight we were 3-1 down after 70 minutes and we went one better by getting three goals in the last twenty minutes. "Barrow have a lot of well known players who can turn it on and play a bit. I wish we had some of your players. Numbers eight and six (Humphries and Kenny) are good players and number seven too (Foreman). He gave our defence a lot of problems. But Barrow's back players weren't able to plug the gaps in defence which allowed us the scoring opportunities that led to the four goals. The news last week, I mean Hesketh's resignation and the rejection of Barrow's promotion application by the Conference, must have put the players' heads down a bit. They've nothing left to play for this season. It must be hard to keep motivated when you've been in the top six all season fighting to go up and then suddenly it's snatched away from you. "Russell's hat trick is the first by a Winsford player for as long as I can remember. He's scored eighteen now, this season. This could be a more important victory for us than when we beat Barrow in the FA Trophy earlier this season. It should take us off the critical list as far as relegation is concerned.
Originally appeared as 'Games We Wish We'd Never Seen' and 'As Others See Us no.2' in issue 026 - May 1996

WINSFORD UNITED 4 BARROW 3

UniBond League Premier Division 25 March 1996 by Graham Murphy

Originally appeared as 'Games We Wish We'd Never Seen' and 'As Others See Us no.2' in issue 026 - May 1996

UniBond League Premier Division
25 March 1996
by Graham Murphy

Originally appeared as 'Games We Wish We'd Never Seen'
and 'As Others See Us no.2' in issue 026 - May 1996