Preview: Stevenage v Barrow

26 March 2021

Take a look at everything you need to know ahead of this weekend's game against Stevenage at The Lamex Stadium.

Stevenage v Barrow
Saturday 27^th March 2021, 3pm
The Lamex Stadium
Sky Bet League Two

In Opposition
Following their 1-1 draw at Cheltenham Town on Boxing Day, Stevenage were propping up the League Two table and were five points away from safety amidst escalating fears of relegation.

Having enjoyed a lucky escape from the drop last time around, Stevenage clearly weren’t in the mood to be embroiled in the drama again and their form since the start of 2021 has been remarkable.

Alex Revell’s men have lost just three times in their last 19 League Two outings and have developed into really stubborn opposition, having conceded only three goals in their last 11 games.

That more ruthless streak has seen them drive away from trouble at the base of the table and they lie in their relative comfort of 15^th spot ahead of Barrow’s arrival at The Lamex Stadium on Saturday.

One To Watch
Elliott List has played a key role as Stevenage have driven themselves up the League Two table since the turn of the year and is now their top scorer heading into the run-in.

The 23-year-old forward is now closing in on double figures in all competitions, scoring some important goals including winners against Harrogate Town and Grimsby Town.

A former Crystal Palace youngster, the dangerous List joined Stevenage in the summer of 2019 after four years on the books at Gillingham.

Head To Head
Saturday’s game will be the ninth competitive meeting between the two sides and it’s Stevenage who have enjoyed the better of it historically having won four of the previous eight encounters.

The Bluebirds were thumped 4-0 on their last trip to The Lamex Stadium in March 2010, though they do have a victory on Stevenage soil under their belts thanks to Brian Dawson and Ian Foster’s goals in a 2-1 triumph there in April 1999.

The two sides were locked together at 1-1 when they met in Cumbria at the start of the season; Dior Angus’ early penalty was cancelled out by Inih Effiong’s second half spot-kick as Barrow earned a point in their first game in the Football League for 48 years.

Referee
James Adcock will take charge of his first Barrow game of the season this weekend when he’s on the whistle for our meeting with Stevenage at The Lamex Stadium.

The experienced official is into his tenth season on the EFL’s list of referees and has overseen 11 games across various competitions so far during 2020/21.

Adcock’s most recent appointment was just over a month ago when he oversaw Bradford City’s 1-0 League Two win over Leyton Orient at The Utilita Energy Stadium.

Betting
Stevenage have been installed as 11/8 favourites for three points on Saturday, with Barrow rated a 21/10 shot for three points and a draw priced up at 2/1 with our friends at Sky Bet.

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 – fans are reminded that Season Ticket holders do not get free access to away games.

Fans in the UK can buy a Match Pass to watch the action now priced at £10, while overseas supporters pay £7.

We would remind supporters that commentary attached to the live stream on Saturday will be provided by the home team, with BBC Radio Cumbria unable to travel due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Click here now to buy your Match Pass for this weekend’s game.

Live Commentary
We will also provide an audio commentary of this weekend’s game as we link up with Stevenage for their live coverage, due to BBC Radio Cumbria being prevented from travelling due to COVID-19 restrictions.

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

Late Penalty Defeats Bluebirds

27 March 2021

A photograph of Calvin Andrew celebrating his goal at Stevenage — Calvin Andrew celebrates after scoring at Stevenage

Calvin Andrew’s first goal for the Club was not enough to prevent Barrow from falling to a narrow defeat to Stevenage at The Lamex Stadium on Saturday.

The new signing came off the bench to equalise with an excellent header twelve minutes from time to cancel out Elliott List’s opener for the home side.

However, a debatable penalty was awarded to the hosts five minutes from the end and Luke Norris slammed it home to extend their unbeaten run to ten games and condemn The Bluebirds to defeat.

It was a high tempo start in Hertfordshire with the hosts first to get on the front foot on five minutes when Luke Norris tested Joel Dixon with a low drive from the right edge of the box which was held by the keeper.

The home side played with real confidence in the opening period and the dangerous Elliott List got in behind the Barrow defence only to strike the side-netting after being closed down sharply by Dixon.

List tried his luck again midway through the first half after spinning into some space twenty yards from goal but this time he sent his effort too high to trouble Dixon.

Barrow grew into the game as it went on and had their first sight of goal just before the half hour mark when Josh Kay escaped down the right but his powerful low shot fizzed across keeper Jamie Cumming and wide of the target.

The breakthrough arrived eight minutes after the break when Stevenage went in front. A low ball in from the right was bundled past Dixon by List at the front post to give the hosts the advantage.

It could have got worse for Barrow just before the hour when a right-wing corner found Luke Prosser but the centre-back’s powerful header dropped just wide of the upright.

Alex Revell’s men were looking a handful and created another opening when a ball was dropped into the far post from the right but Norris could only fire his volley wide on the stretch.

James Jones then got on the end of a right-wing corner at the other end but could only send his glancing header across goal and wide of the far post.

The Bluebirds then had Dixon to thank for some decisive keeping as he darted from his line to block a shot from List after some hesitant defending in front of him.

Rob Kelly threw the dice with a triple change as Ollie Banks, Jamie Devitt and Luke James were all introduced; Devitt was straight into the action and his testing cross was half cleared to Kay but his shot was held by Cumming.

The caretaker boss gambled further when he threw Calvin Andrew into the fray and the big front man paid him back with a leveller on 78 minutes. An incisive pass from Banks opened things up for Devitt who threaded it wide right for Barry and, when he clipped an inviting ball into the middle, Andrew glanced a perfect header down and into the far corner.

It looked as though Andrew’s goal would be enough to rescue a draw, but Stevenage won a penalty five minutes from time when Barry was adjudged to have felled his man just inside the box. Norris confidently struck home the resultant spot-kick to restore the home side’s lead and clinch the points.

Full Time: Stevenage 2 Barrow 1

Stevenage: Cumming, James-Wildin, Coker, Cuthbert, Prosser, Osborne (Smith 83), List (Stevens 83), Read (Aitchison 83), Pett, Norris (Vincelot 91), Lines (Martin 91).
Subs: Johnson, Hutton.

Barrow: Dixon, Barry, J Jones, Thomas, Ntlhe (Banks 67), Brough, J Taylor (Devitt 67), C Taylor, Beadling (James 67), Kay, Quigley (Andrew 75).
Subs: Moloney, Eardley.

Booked: Banks, Barry, C Taylor.

Referee: James Adcock

Attendance: Behind Closed Doors