WORKSOP TOWN 2 BARROW 4 FA Trophy First Round Replay 13 January 1998 by Michael Gibson
This replay provided the travelling Barrow fans with the opportunity to see Worksop's new ground. It's an absolute tip. Although the official capacity is just over 2,000 it seemed almost full with 1,044 inside. If I ever go there again I'll stand in Sandy Lane outside the ground. You can see most of the pitch from there. As in the first match the referee's pro-Worksop bias ruined an otherwise entertaining game. But Barrow put in a much better performance, cruising into a two goal lead after just half an hour thanks to goals from Paul Jones and Marc Coates. That was too much for the referee so he helped Worksop back into the game with one of the most disgraceful decisions I have ever seen on a football pitch. Worksop were awarded a free kick after a Dave Higgins challenge. The kick was taken while the ball was still moving and it beat Farrelly to bounce off the post and go into the net. There was sheer disbelief as the referee pointed to the centre circle. Whatever the rights and wrongs of Higgins' angry outburst which followed the goal, the fact remains that under the laws of the game the goal should have been disallowed. Worksop equalised on the stroke of half-time under very similar circumstances while the Barrow defence was still organising itself for another needlessly conceded free kick. Fortunately Barrow stepped up a gear in the second half. Paul Robertson looked like he might set up a goal or score one himself every time he moved upfield. But it wasn't until the last fifteen minutes that Barrow's domination was converted into goals. Eddie Johnston restored Barrow's lead and in the final minutes justice was done after Lee Cooper was felled in the penalty area and Gary Bauress converted the spot kick to send Barrow through to a second round tie against St Albans City. Originally appeared as part two of 'The Worksop Encounter' in issue 037 - November 1998