Barrow AFC lose out in game that could have gone either way

A STOPPAGE-time strike from Alejandro Garnacho condemned Barrow to a third straight loss as they went down to a determined young Manchester United team in the Papa John’s Trophy.

Just as it was looking like the Bluebirds were set for a second shoot-out in this season’s competition, Garnacho fired home clinically into the corner after being expertly teed up by Tom Huddlestone.

It means Barrow went down again after back-to-back League Two defeats before this curtailed what had been a quite superb start to the campaign.

Bluebirds boss Pete Wild had given his starting line-up a huge shake-up following the weekend league loss at Tranmere, and his younger guns made a satisfactory start against the United starlets.

Fifteen minutes had passed when the hosts crafted the first opportunity. Jordan Stevens found space on the edge of the United box, only to see his well-struck effort blocked by a defender.

Three minutes later the visitors were punished as Tyler Fredricson clinically hacked down Robbie Gotts and he made a menacing run towards the box. However, from the subsequent free-kick, Stevens fired a disappointing effort straight into the wall.

Bluebirds’ youngster Benni Smales-Braithwaite was doing his best to make the best of his big chance in the Trophy competition again, and he fired a decent effort narrowly off target midway through the half.

David Moyo was also looking lively, and he tried a cheeky effort just past the half-hour mark when his back-heeled shot had to be smartly saved by Reds’ ‘keeper Nathan Bishop.

Wild’s men were in control of the game as half-time approached, but a breakthrough was still proving elusive. It was therefore against the run of play when United went in front a minute before the break from the penalty spot.

Scott Moloney was Barrow’s guilty party as he lost the ball in the box before clumsily felling tricky opponent Charlie McNeill.

Up stepped McNeill to coolly slot the resultant spot-kick home, leaving boss Wild again with a headache and a deficit to contend with for the third game running.

It didn’t take the Bluebirds long to restore parity once the second half got under way.

In the 50th minute Fredricson’s night went from bad to worse as he bundled a cross into his own net. Wild’s men were re-energised by their equaliser, and could have notched again soon after.

Pawel Zuk saw a shot blocked, while similarly Smales-Braithwaite was denied after a neat through-ball from Gotts.

Smales-Braithwaite went close again in the 65th minute as his superbly-struck effort fizzed narrowly past the post.

The hosts were looking to press home their now clear advantage, but a potential winner still looked out of reach. In fact, United were also doing their best to force the issue as the final 20 minutes approached.

Garnacho’s shot was blocked, while United’s first-half scorer McNeill also went close with a crisp left-foot strike.

This game could still be going either way, with United looking for a second straight win in the competition after triumphing at Carlisle in their opening group fixture.

However, the pace did drop off in the final 10 minutes, though Tom White went close for Barrow just as the game entered stoppage time.

A penalty shoot-out looked on the cards again, until that man Garnacho stunned Barrow with his winning strike just a minute later.