[Archived] Match Report: Barrow 3 - 3 Blackburn Rovers Under 21's

[Kamy100]

Parsonblue's match report from the Lancashire Senior Cup clash against Barrow:

Tuesday 8^th September 2015 Lancashire Senior Cup 1^st Round

Barrow 3 v 3 Blackburn Rovers Under-21

(Blackburn Rovers Under-21 won 5-4 on penalties)

Barrow (2) 3

Cook 13, Livesey 41, Pilkington 57

(Pens: Symington, Alex Newby, Walker, Ashton)

Aaran Taylor; Brad Carroll, Danny Livesey (Ben van den Broek 46), Niall Cowperthwaite, Neil Ashton; Mo Fofana, David Mellor; Dave Symington, Elliot Newby, Dan Pilkington (Alex Newby 66); Andy Cook (Jason Walker 72).

Subs not used: Danny Eccles (gk), Andy Haworth.

Manager: Darren Edmondson

Blackburn Rovers Under-21 (2) 3

O’Sullivan 18, Mahoney 37, Mahoney 53

(Pens: Rittenberg, Carson, Lavelle, Thomson, O’Sullivan)

Luke Simpson; Ryan Nyambe, Sam Lavelle, Scott Wharton, Jack Doyle; Sacha Petshi (Connor Thomson 79), David Carson; Connor Mahoney, John O’Sullivan, Luke Wall (Modou Cham 90); Lewis Mansell (Dean Rittenberg 46)

Subs not used: Ryan Crump (gk), Mark Edgar.

Coach: John Filan

Referee: Mr. K. Evans

Bookings: None

Attendance: 346

The last time the Rovers and Barrow met in this competition was way back in April 1967, when Barrow beat the Rovers Reserve team 1-0 at Holker Street at the semi-final stage. The Barrow team that day contained a couple of well-known faces to Rovers fans in the form of the late Fred Else and Tony Field whilst the Rovers included the likes of Andy McEvoy and Mike Harrison in their starting line-up. Forty-odd years later – where does the time go?- the Rovers were back at Holker Street, or the Furness Building Society Stadium as it is now called, for a 1^st round tie and under the rules of the competition fielded their Under-21 side against Barrow’s senior squad.

The Rovers boosted their usual Under-21 squad with John O’Sullivan whilst Luke Simpson was given his first outing in goal after spending the past few weeks on trial at the club. Simpson featured with Accrington Stanley last season and has, more recently been with the development squad at Crystal Palace. With Damien Johnson away on international duty, it was left to John Filan to look after things whilst former Rover Andy Haworth was on the bench for the home side.

The Rovers started brightly with O’Sullivan seeing plenty of the ball but not being able to open up a well organised defence. However, after thirteen minutes the Rovers suffered an early setback when they fell behind to a well worked goal by the home side. Elliott Newby and Andy Cook exchanged passes down the right and when Newby played the ball across the six yard box, Cook was on hand to sweep the ball home with Simpson having no chance of making a save.

The Rovers responded with a shot from Connor Mahoney which was blocked but, in truth, were struggling to make many clear cut chances despite some good distribution from Sacha Petshi.

On fifteen minutes the home side might well have increased their lead when Simpson did well to push away a long range effort from Cook.

The Rovers drew level on eighteen minutes when O’Sullivan picked up the ball in midfield, took it forward and then struck a powerful effort which took a deflection off Mo Fofana and beat Aaron Taylor.

Petshi then found Mahoney with a wonderful sweeping pass which enabled the winger to get in a cross which was blocked. A similar cross at the other end saw Simpson having to punch the ball away despite being under heavy pressure from a Barrow forward.

The Rovers had a glorious chance to edge ahead on the half hour mark when a corner from Mahoney went across the face of the goal with nobody able get a telling touch on the ball.

Simpson was again called into action to make a good save, at the foot of the post, from Dan Pilkington, whose shot skipped off the surface at pace and could well have embarrassed the ‘keeper.

The Rovers took the lead on thirty-seven minutes and, once again, a wonderful pass from Petshi started the move. Deep in his own half he swept an inch perfect ball out to the right wing for Mahoney to run onto. As the winger began to cut inside, O’Sullivan made a move to the wing which dragged the centre-back out of position and Mahoney moved into the newly created space and beat Taylor from around 25-yards out. It was a very well worked team goal.

However, on forty-one minutes the home side drew level following a shot Newby which was blocked for a corner. A short corner resulted in Ryan Nyambe being turned rather too easily and when Newby sent the ball into the near post, Danny Livesey was on hand to force it over the line.

If the football in the first forty-five minutes had not always been of the highest quality it had certainly produced an entertaining game with both sides looking to attack at every opportunity.

After the break both sides made a change. Lewis Mansell, who had been very subdued during the first half was replaced by Dean Rittenberg whilst Livesey, who had left the field with an injury or possible cut just before the interval was replaced by Ben van den Broek for Barrow.

Simpson had to be on his toes at the opening of the second half when a ball played back to him bounced badly and he did well to make a clearance under pressure. The home side certainly looked quicker off the mark after the interval and yet, it was the Rovers who edged ahead thanks to a fine individual goal from Mahoney after fifty-three minutes. The winger moved down the right flank before cutting inside once he got to the byline. However, instead of crossing at this point, he skipped past a defender and then found the net from the tightest of angles with a well struck shot.

To their credit the Vanarama National League side hit back after fifty-seven minutes when Pilkington fired a cross-cum-shot into the area and Sam Lavelle totally missed his attempted clearance with the result that the ball flew into the bottom corner of the net with Simpson completely wrong-footed by Lavelle’s error.

Both sides made changes as they pressed for a winner. Mahoney’s perfectly placed free-kick was just missed by Lavelle whilst a good run by Neil Ashton resulted in the full-back’s cross being blocked. Petshi then found O’Sullivan on the left but when he cut inside to shoot his effort was blocked by some brave defending. Mahoney then gave the ball away in midfield but fortunately, the Barrow forwards were unable to profit from the error and Simpson was then forced to dive at the feet of an oncoming forward to collect the ball.

Simpson was then called upon to make another good save at the near post from Walker but Alex Newby really ought to have scored when he cut inside and pulled his shot narrowly wide with Simpson completely wrong-footed and unable to move towards the ball.

Barrow’s New Zealand international, van den Broek, then found the side-netting when he really might had done better whilst at the other end Modou Cham forced a finger-tip save from Taylor with an intelligent lob which almost caught the home ‘keeper out.

With the game moving straight to penalties it proved a fairly nervous affair for the supporters of both sides and yet, the first eight penalties were all perfectly struck. Symington, Alex Newby, Walker, and Ashton all beat Simpson with ease whilst Rittenberg, Carson, Lavelle and Thomson gave Taylor no chance with any of their spot kicks. The decisive penalty proved to be the fifth one for home side when Simpson guessed correctly and dived to his right to beat away the effort from Niall Cowperthwaite. Despite some barracking from behind the goal, O’Sullivan stepped up and calmly slotted home his penalty to put the Rovers through to the next round.

Luke Simpson had an impressive debut and couldn’t be faulted for any of the goals. His handling was sound and his kicking good and, of course, he made the vital penalty save.

The back four looked rather uncomfortable at times with Ryan Nyambe and Sam Lavelle not performing as well as they can do. Scott Wharton did well in the centre and Jack Doyle was steady at left-back.

David Carson and Sacha Petshi did well as the holding midfield pair. Carson worked hard but wasn’t quite as effective as he can be in going forward. Petshi impressed with the range of his passing although at times he was caught out with passes which went astray and put the Rovers in trouble. Like Koita, Petshi is raw but looks to have more than enough about him to develop into a useful acquisition given time to adjust to English football.

Connor Mahoney had some good spells on the right wing but at times let himself down with some indifferent passing. He took both his goals extremely well and at this stage of his career one can’t help but feel that a loan spell in the lower divisions would help the development of his game.

John O’Sullivan, as the attacking midfield player behind the main striker, had a mixed evening. At times he looked a real threat and at others faded out of the game. Kept his nerve to score the vital important penalty.

Luke Wall had a difficult night on the left and struggled to make any impression against a very good full-back.

Lewis Mansell made little impression in the first half before being replaced by Dean Rittenberg at half-time. One cannot help but feel that Mansell needs a full season with the Under-18’s at this stage of his fledgling career.

[joey_big_nose]

Good to hear Petshi is alive! Great match report, thanks PB.

[Tom]

Petshi sounds promising I hope he is given time to develop but with a 1 year deal he may not be around too long