LEEK TOWN 2 BARROW 2 HFS Loans League Premier Division 17 October 1992 by Michael Gibson
Here we go again! Not for the first time this season Barrow have a match at a venue so remote it can't even be reached using the British Rail timetable. So once again the Barrow AFC National Boozers (sorry, Supporters) Club come into action for those living at the 'Smog' end of the country. I arrived at our Euston station meeting point around 9.30 where I was to meet the two Daves (Leitch and Roberts) and Frank from Camden. As planned we were on the road by ten, and after what seemed like a guided tour of North London, we took the M1 and M6 before taking a quick break at a service station near Birmingham. So far, everything had gone according to plan. However, no sooner had we got back on the motorway when a news bulletin came over the radio. This informed us that there had been an accident blocking the Northbound carriageway causing long tailbacks between junctions 10 and 13. As we were due to leave the motorway at junction 14 we had to change our route at very short notice. So out came the old road map and after some in-depth discussion, it was decided that our best route would be to leave at junction 9, then take the A34 through Cannock and Stafford, and the A520 to Leek. On estimate, this detour probably added an hour to the journey time. But at least it was better than being stuck in Wolverhampton all afternoon. On arrival at Leek, our main problem was trying to find the ground, so we did the sensible thing and asked someone. When we eventually found Harrison Park we parked the car and went to the pub up the road. Just our luck, it was 2.05 and they'd stopped serving meals at two. Several minutes later another carload of supporters from the capital arrived - apparently they'd been caught up in the tailbacks on the motorway. 2.45 and time to make our way to the ground. By now, I was starving; my first stop was the snack bar for a pie and chips. And delicious they were, too - it's just a pity they were in such a microscopic portion. At 3.02 Barrow were already one down from Leek's first shot on goal. John Brady equalized after 34 minutes with our first goal in 407 minutes. But our joy was short lived as Leek restored their lead within two minutes. Indeed, it could have been five or six-one at half-time. But the score remained 2-1 until injury time of the second half when Neil Doherty blasted in following a disputed free kick, that sent the Barrow fans wild, and the Leek bench into a paroxysm of rage. The referee left the field with their screams of 'CHEAT!' ringing in his ears. Anyway, we didn't care as it was our first point in five games. After a few drinks at the Leek Town FC Social Club, we were on our way back to London, rounding off yet another great day out. And thanks to Dave Leitch for the driving. Issue 015 - March 1993