Preview: Barrow v Fleetwood Town

5 October 2021

A photograph of The Dunes Hotel Stadium — The Dunes Hotel Stadium

We turn our attentions to the Papa John's Trophy with a full and in-depth preview of this evening's action at The Dunes Hotel Stadium.

Barrow v Fleetwood Town
Tuesday 5^th October 2021, 7.45pm
The Dunes Hotel Stadium
Papa John’s Trophy

In Opposition
Fleetwood Town are attempting to recover from a disappointing start to the new campaign which saw them lose each of their opening three League One fixtures.

Simon Grayson’s side have certainly been more difficult to beat since then and their home defeat to Charlton Athletic at the weekend was their first loss since August.

Fleetwood thumped Leicester City’s Under-21s in their first group fixture, meaning a victory at The Dunes Hotel Stadium tonight would clinch their progress to the knockout stage of the competition.

This evening’s fixture throws up a couple of connections in that Joe Grayson is Town boss Simon’s son, while former Bluebirds boss David Dunn is Assistant Manager of The Cod Army. Midfielder Harrison Biggins could also feature after spending time on loan at Barrow last season.

One To Watch
Young front man Gerard Garner has been a man in form for Fleetwood Town in recent weeks as he’s helped himself to four goals in his last six outings.

Still only 22, Garner has come through the ranks at Highbury and has gained senior experience with a number of loan spells – most recently with Gateshead last season.

However, he’s earned a chance to shine in Town’s First Team this term and has begun to repay Simon Grayson’s faith with goals – particularly when he kept his cool from the penalty spot to salvage an unlikely point against Sunderland last month.

Referee
Robert Lewis will take charge of his first Barrow game of the new season when he’s on the whistle for our Papa John’s Trophy encounter with Fleetwood Town.

The official saw us in action twice last term, overseeing our 2-1 defeat at Newport County and our 1-0 home loss to Harrogate Town.

An experienced referee, Lewis’ last appointment came on Saturday when he presided over Swindon Town’s 3-1 win at Bristol Rovers in League Two.

Tickets
Tickets for tonight’s game are available in advance online right now, from Main Reception (card payment only) from 2pm and then from the Fan Zone Ticket Booth from 5pm (cash and card payment).

Click here for all the information you need on buying tickets for tonight’s game.

Live Streaming
All of our Papa John’s group stage fixtures are being streamed live on iFollow, meaning Bluebirds fans can watch the action as it unfolds whether they’re in the UK or abroad this evening.

All you need to do is ensure you’re signed-up for a FREE iFollow account and then you can add a Video Match Pass for this tonight’s game then sit back and enjoy all the action live.

Click here to add your Match Pass ahead of kick-off.

Live Commentary
We will be providing live online audio commentary from every game this season as we continue our link-up with BBC Radio Cumbria.

Fans will be able to listen to expert Bluebirds commentator Adam Johnson, who will be joined by regular summariser John Goodwin for full coverage of tonight’s game.

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.

Competition Rules
If the game is level after 90 minutes, then both sides will be awarded one point.

However, a penalty shootout will then take place and the side which wins will also be awarded a bonus point.

Betting
Fleetwood Town have been installed as 5/4 favourites to win the game in 90 minutes, with Barrow rated a 19/10 shot and a price of 2/1 is available on the game going to penalties.

Click here now to take a look at a full list of markets ahead of this evening’s game.

Match Reports

Bluebirds Fall To Trophy Defeat

5 October 2021

A photograph of Barrow — Barrow's Robbie Gotts in action against Fleetwood Town

Offrande Zanzala’s goal was not enough to prevent Barrow from falling to defeat to Fleetwood Town in the Papa John’s Trophy at The Dunes Hotel Stadium on Tuesday night.

The front man’s instinctive finish had the hosts in front in the first half, but Simon Grayson’s visitors were transformed after the break and scored three goals to secure their progress in the competition and confirm The Bluebirds would not make it out of the group stages.

A blustery night made football difficult, but Mark Cooper’s men did their best and could have stolen in front inside three minutes when Zanzala tried to muscle his way through but was just held off by the visiting defence.

The first real moment of quality arrived on 14 minutes when Josh Kay drove forward with possession and fed Festus Arthur on the right who delivered a first-time cross on to the head of George Williams but his effort flashed wide of the far post.

At the other end, Ryan Edmondson could have grabbed a goal for The Cod Army when he attempted to get on the end of a low ball across goal but couldn’t quite stretch enough to divert it home.

The Bluebirds continued to look the greater threat though and another well-constructed move down the left saw the ball worked inside to Williams and he teed up Robbie Gotts only for the midfielder’s low drive to be held by keeper Billy Crellin.

Crellin made an even more impressive save moments later when Zanzala bullied his way into a shooting position on the edge of the box and hammered a low shot on goal which was brilliantly palmed around the post by the visiting keeper.

Kay was next to test Crellin after some great work down the left from Patrick Brough, while The Bluebirds were thankful to Josh Lillis at the other end after he showed great alertness to deny Max McMillan after the Town man seized on a short back pass.

The opening goal arrived on 28 minutes and it was Barrow who grabbed it. Williams slipped a wonderful ball in behind the Fleetwood defence to Zanzala and he got there ahead of Crellin to prod it beyond the keeper for 1-0.

The lead last until three minutes after the break when the visitors got back on level terms in spectacular fashion as Jay Matete unloaded from 25 yards and the ball flew past Lillis into the top cornet of the net to level things up.

Town’s second half improvement was underlined on 55 minutes when a ball was swung into the Barrow penalty area from the left and Edmondson reacted quickest to fire past Lillis and give the visitors the lead.

Midway through the second period the visitors grabbed their third. This time Edmondson was the provider as he stormed clear down the right before intelligently squaring the ball for McMillan to sweep home a debut goal.

It became ever untidier from then on, the headline coming in injury time when young goalkeeper Scott Moloney was introduced as an outfield substitute – though he didn’t have too much time to make his mark at Barrow bowed out with a group game to play.

Full Time: Barrow 1 Fleetwood Town 3

Barrow: Lillis, J Jones, Arthur, Brough, Grayson, Taylor, White, Gotts (Stevens 46), Kay (Moloney 91), Williams (Gordon 76), Zanzala.
Subs not used: Farman.

Fleetwood Town: Crellin, Andrew (Raffie 81), Edmondson, Matete, Batty, Johnson, Clark, Teale, Thiam (Bird 91), McMillan, Thompson (Hayes 81).
Subs not used: Wright, Camps, Garner, Biggins.

Referee: Robert Lewis

Attendance: 1,281 (74 Fleetwood Town)

Ticket News

Ticket Information: Fleetwood Town (H)

5 October 2021

A photograph of Barrow fans celebrating a goal — Barrow fans celebrating at The Dunes Hotel Stadium

We’ve slashed ticket prices for Tuesday night’s Papa John’s Trophy game against Fleetwood Town at The Dunes Hotel Stadium (7.45pm kick-off).

Mark Cooper’s men return to action when they continue their campaign in the competition on Tuesday having picked up a point in their first group fixture at Accrington Stanley last month.

The Bluebirds are in strong form at the moment and will be keen to add further momentum when they welcome rivals Fleetwood to Cumbria – so get set for another entertaining encounter!

We’ve cut ticket prices down to just £10 for adults and £5 for concessions for this fixture so if you want a midweek fix of football then why not come along to The Dunes Hotel Stadium?

Tickets aren't available on the turnstiles but they are still available prior to kick-off from the Ticket Office at Main Reception (card payment only) and from the Fan Zone Ticket Booth (cash and card).

Prices
Adults - £10
Concessions - £5
Under 18s - £5
Under 7s – FREE

Click here to buy your tickets for Tuesday’s game online now.