BARROW 1,
HARROGATE 0

THERE may have been an element of good fortune about the winner, but Josh Gordon scored to give Barrow a deserved 1-0 win against Harrogate that continues their terrific start to the season.

Pete Wild’s side made it four wins from five in League Two – with their only blip the controversial defeat at Sutton – as they strangled the life out of the visitors’ attacks in an often-feisty encounter.

Bluebirds boss Pete Wild had mentioned the importance of starting brightly in the week. And, once they had done that, they rarely relinquished their grip on the game, other than a brief late rally from the visitors, as they made it three wins from three on home turf.

Barrow’s early pressure brought a fifth-minute chance for Gordon. Ben Whitfield’s solo run and shot accounted for the entire build-up, and when he retrieved his blocked shot and sent the ball across it fell kindly for Gordon via a defender’s leg, the striker denied by a fine reaction save from visiting keeper Pete Jameson.

Moments later, Jameson found his opposite number, Paul Farman, a greater threat when his goal kick caught the fierce Holker Street wind. One bounce had Jameson back-pedalling furiously and, at full stretch, he was relieved to hear the ball bounce harmlessly off the top of the bar.

The hosts’ next chance came just after the half-hour mark, with Harrogate once again grateful to Jameson. Whitfield was at the heart of it once more and his fierce drive at goal took a wicked deflection, forcing the keeper to somehow get his trailing hand out in time to push the ball to safety.

Josh Kay tried his luck just before half time, his long-range shot beating Jameson but just passing the upright and finding the side netting. But Jameson was helpless when the Bluebirds benefited from a slice of good fortune to take the lead in first-half stoppage time. Barrow – and Gordon in particular – had perhaps earned it but happily accepted is as the striker’s cross from the left was surely never intended to loop over the keeper and dip just enough to nestle in the far corner of the goal.

But that’s precisely what happened and no one could deny Wild’s side were good value for their lead at the break.

Harrison Neal blew Barrow’s first chance to double the lead, five minutes into the second half. Patrick Brough drilled in a low free kick from the right-hand side, nudged on by Gordon, but Neal completely miscued a finish that flew yards over the bar.

Harrogate were finding Barrow’s solid defence tough to break down with Sam McClelland and Niall Canavan imperious when the visitors went direct. On the flanks, Brough and Tyrell Warren tucked in neatly to provide Farman with an effective barrier and got forward with purpose whenever they could.

Midway through the half, Jameson yet again kept Harrogate in the contest, almost single-handedly repelling Gordon and Kay before charging out to block Brough’s shot on the edge of his area. Harrogate did at least manage to give the home crowd a couple of nervy moments late on but when Luke Armstrong headed high and wide with 10 minutes to play, the writing was on the wall for them.

There was, however, a double chance that they still had to survive, as Farman thwarted Tyler Frost and McClelland bravely blocked Matty Daly’s follow-up to preserve their three points.