BARROW 0

DONCASTER ROVERS 1

BARROW were knocked out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle by fellow League Two outfit Doncaster Rovers.

It was an uninspiring draw for Both sides, who locked horns in league action just over a month ago.

And it was the same result as Rovers ran out late 1-0 winners, this time through West Ham loanee Patrick Kelly’s decisive 84th-minute strike at Holker Street.

The Bluebirds’ cup run was over before it even got going in a competition which can yield substantial funds for the club’s coffers.

Stephen Clemence was hopeful his side could get back to winning ways and put their poor record run behind them.

But it wasn’t to be as they slumped to a sixth game without victory in all competitions.

It is now a worrying one win from their last ten, which stretches back to the hammering at Premier League giants Chelsea in the EFL Cup. And goal-shy Barrow have scored just four goals in that sorry spell.

In a welcome boost for the Bluebirds, Connor Mahoney completed his comeback from injury as the influential creator made his first start since the end of August. Neo Eccleston slotted back in at right-back as he replaced Rory Feely.

The Bluebirds, who were let off when Luke Molyneux’s fourth-minute effort was rightfully chalked off for offside, started brightly as Scottish midfielder Dean Campbell curled an effort just wide of the mark with the game’s first real chance.

Down the other end, Rovers looked dangerous on the counter-attack as Molyneux powerful strike was well blocked by Theo Vassell.

The hosts were incensed when Eccleston was dragged to the floor with no foul given before Doncaster broke at pace again. This time it was Robbie Gotts who kept them at bay with a good last-gasp challenge.

Clemence’s charges were let off just before half-time as Molyneux struck a low free-kick into the side netting.

After the break, Wyll Stanway did well to claim Molyneux’s header after he got on the end of a fine Billy Sharp cross.

The Bluebirds’ boss decided a change of tack was the course of action as Elliot Newby replaced the unusually quiet Katia Kouyate.

Barrow started to really up the ante as the clock struck towards the hour mark. Substitute Newby came close to making an immediate impact as he played a defence-splitting pass into the path of Sam Foley, who saw his effort tipped wide by on-loan Chelsea stopper Teddy Sharman-Lowe.

Former Leeds’ midfielder Gotts dribbled past a Doncaster defender before his effort was blocked. Eccleston took it upon himself to open the game out as he flew down the right-hand side before unleashing a wild strike which cannoned back off the bar.

Charlie Kirk, a recent free agent acquisition, replaced Mahoney as he made his debut for the club. Clemence threw on Dom Telford and Chris Popov with just over ten minutes remaining.

Moments after coming on, Telford could only glance Ben Jackson’s cross over. Stanway thought he had ensured the game went to extra-time as he produced a super sprawling stop to keep out Jordan Gibson’s rocket. But Kelly sent Rovers through late on as he popped up with his first goal for the South Yorkshire club. The Northern Irish youngster neatly tucked home Harry Clifton’s pass to send Barrow packing.