Preview: Barrow v Morecambe

19 February 2021

We take a look at everything you need to know as Barrow prepare for this weekend's Battle of the Bay at The Progression Solicitors Stadium.

Barrow v Morecambe
Saturday 20^th February 2021, 3pm
The Progression Solicitors Stadium
Sky Bet League Two

In Opposition
Morecambe are looking to get back to their very best in the closing months of the campaign after enjoying an excellent first half to 2020/21.

The Shrimps sit outside the play-offs on goal difference alone ahead of the weekend fixture and look well on course for a top half finish for the first time since 2014/15.

Indeed, Derek Adams will be hoping for much more than simply a top 12 finish – his eyes are firmly fixed on at least the top seven as he looks to win promotion from this division for a second time.

Adams’ men enjoyed a fantastic Christmas period during which they won four in a row but, since losing 4-0 at Chelsea in the FA Cup at the turn of the year, they have managed just two victories in eight league fixtures.

One To Watch
Carlos Mendes Gomes is Morecambe’s top scorer so far this season having netted eight times in League Two so far, including the winner when Barrow visited The Mazuma Stadium in December.

The Spanish forward won a deal with The Shrimps on the back of a successful trial back in 2018 but this has been his real breakthrough campaign as he began to get among the goals.

He hit a particularly lethal spell through December when Morecambe were at their best and he will be hoping to hit that kind of form again in the coming months to propel his team in to the play-offs.

Head To Head
Barrow boast the better record in meetings between the two clubs having tasted victory 25 times in comparison to The Shrimps’ 14 successes in the fixture.

The last three encounters have all gone with home advantage during a rivalry which spans 51 competitive meetings over the years.

Referee
Thomas Bramall was on the whistle when these sides met at The Mazuma Stadium back in December and has also been chosen to oversee this weekend’s return fixture.

Now into his third season as an EFL official, Bramall has presided over 22 fixtures across all competitions so far this season.

His most recent outing was last weekend when he was in charge for Plymouth Argyle’s 1-0 win over Fleetwood Town in League One at Home Park.

Betting
The bookies are struggling to split the two teams but have Morecambe as slight favourites at 6/4, while Barrow are just behind at 13/8 and the draw is available at odds of 23/10.

Click here now to take a look at Sky Bet’s range of odds on Saturday’s action.

Live Streaming
Match Passes to watch Saturday’s game live on iFollow Barrow are now available so that you can enjoy every second of the action as we go head-to-head with rivals Morecambe.

Season Ticket holders are still able to enjoy complimentary access to home games and your iFollow accounts should now have been upgraded.

Click here now to buy your Match Pass for Saturday.

Live Commentary
We will also provide an audio commentary of Saturday’s game when we link up with BBC Radio Cumbria who will describe every kick from our clash with The Shrimps.

You can purchase an Audio Match Pass for £2.50, an Audio Monthly Pass for £4.49 or sign-up for Audio Season Pass which provides all live commentary and video news for just £45.

Click here now to subscribe to iFollow Barrow.

Match Reports

Derby Defeat For Bluebirds

20 February 2021

A photograph of Scott Quigley — Scott Quigley scores for Barrow against Morecambe

Barrow slipped to a fourth successive defeat at Morecambe took the derby honours with a 2-1 victory at The Progression Solicitors Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Aaron Wildig put the visitors in front with a header in the first half but Scott Quigley levelled for The Bluebirds midway through the second half, only for Kelvin Mellor to drive home a winner just a minute later.

A strong wind led to a scrappy opening to the game, but it was the visitors who settled first and began to look the most likely to find a breakthrough.

Aaron Wildig provided the first moment of real menace when some good football saw him find space on the right of area before flashing a dangerous ball across the face of goal and wide.

Cole Stockton then tried his luck from a long-range free kick, making a decent contact but not really troubling Joel Dixon who had it covered as it flew past the post.

The Shrimps came even closer from a free kick midway through the half when Carlos Mendes Gomes struck a show from 22 yards which cannoned off the post before Dixon made an excellent save to deny Stockton from the rebound.

The goal had been coming and it duly arrived on 24 minutes. Stockton had been a threat and he powered his way through the penalty area to the byline on the right side before scooping a ball across to the far post for Wildig to nod home.

Stockton then took advantage of an error on the halfway line to drive through on goal but Dixon came to the rescue again as he went down bravely to smother at the Morecambe striker’s feet.

Barrow did manage an effort on 34 minutes when Dion Donohue whipped in a teasing corner from the right, but James Jones nodded too high from close range.

Scott Quigley was found well down the right wing and worked hard to fizz a cross in to the front post for Jamie Devitt but he couldn’t get a clean shot away under pressure and the visitors survived.

The Bluebirds made a change at half time as Mace Goodridge was introduced and they came out with a new intent, Josh Kay getting a shot on goal within the first 60 seconds which was just about parried round the post by keeper Kyle Letheren.

The visitors continued to break with menace and Stockton came close to doubling their lead 11 minutes after the break when he won possession and drove towards goal, only to see his curling effort saved by Dixon.

The Barrow keeper was called upon again just a minute later as Jolley’s men again afforded Wildig some space, but his shot lacked the power to really trouble Dixon.

The Bluebirds then came agonisingly close to levelling things up when Morecambe were unable to fully clear their lines and Kay struck a powerful volley which looked destined to find the net before keeper Letheren got a fingertip to it to turn it against the post.

Dixon was then immediately back to centre-stage at the other end as Morecambe raced away on the counter-attack to play Mendes Gomes through on goal but this time the Bluebirds keeper was out quickly to brilliantly block the shot.

Kay was having an influence for Barrow and he played a key role in the equaliser as he ran in behind down the left onto Patrick Brough’s perfect pass and, when Kay’s low cross was cleared only as far as Scott Quigley, the front man took a touch and fired it home.

The elation was short-lived for Barrow though because another moment of indecision at the back allowed Kelvin Mellor the chance to drill The Shrimps back in front just a minute later.

More good work from Kay down the left provided a chance for Luke James, just on from the bench, and the striker turned swiftly to engineer a shot on goal, but it lacked the venom to trouble Letheren.

As time ticked away, Quigley did well to slalom through a couple of challenges into the area and flash a ball across goal but James just couldn’t stretch enough to get on the end of it and Morecambe were able to scramble it clear.

Full Time: Barrow 1 Morecambe 2

Barrow: Dixon, Eardley (Bramall 85), J Jones (Goodridge 46), Davies (Thomas 85), Brough, Donohue, Barry, Kay, Banks (James 75), Devitt, Quigley.
Subs not used: Lillis, Ntlhe.

Booked: Banks, J Jones.

Morecambe: Letheren, Mellor, Knight-Percival, Lavelle, Diagouraga, Stockton (Slew 79), Wildig, Mendes Gomes, O’Sullivan, Gibson (Hendrie 84), Songo’o.
Subs not used: Halstead, Lyons, McAlinden, Denny, Cooney.

Booked: Lavelle, Songo’o.

Referee: Thomas Bramall

Attendance: Behind Closed Doors