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Holker Street is still a fortress for Tigers
WORKSOP'S Holker Street hoodoo continued with a frustrating defeat at Barrow.
The Tigers have failed to win at the Cumbrian outfit for almost seven years, and that run continued after Gavin Knight's 41st minute strike won the game for the Bluebirds.
Worksop's last victory at Holker Street was in October 1999 when goals from Steve Johnson, Phil Stafford and Gary Townsend saw off the Bluebirds in a 3-2 victory.
This time around, the Tigers arrived in Barrow looking to extend a three match unbeaten run, but left rueing a host of missed chances.
Tigers boss Ronnie Glavin named an unchanged side following victory against Droylsden in midweek, and included new signing Alan Pearce on the bench.
The New Zealand international is in his second spell at Worksop after making one appearance under Steve Ludlam in 2002.
Worksop had an early chance when Steve Owens' strong right-footed shot from 18 yards forced a good save from Bluebirds goalkeeper Simon Bishop.
Then Tigers' on-loan goalkeeper Dave Stockdale had his hands warmed with a shot from Nick Rogan after he beat Michael Simpkins from 18 yards out on seven minutes.
Owens tracked back to defend a Barrow attack on 31 minutes, and picked out a speculative pass to Saunders, who managed to break clear of the defence, but could not get the angle to pull off an effective shot.
Two minutes later, Barrow were on the attack with Knight, who found it easy to skip past Simpkins. Luckily, Stockdale was more than equal to the effort and the move broke down.
This was to be the last involvement for Simpkins, who limped off after pulling his hamstring. Anthony Jackson replaced him at the back, but barely had time to settle in when
Barrow managed to nick a goal after 41 minutes.
Despite looking to have been pulled back by Steve Nicholson, Steve Ridley succeeded in getting a shot on target, which Stockdale saved brilliantly with his left boot – but Knight rifled in the rebound to take a lead which some would say was undeserved.
Worksop came out in the second half with more drive and purpose in an attempt to restore parity. Left-back Gordon pushed up to support Kevin Davies on the left flank.
It nearly bore fruit on 49 minutes when Saunders' pass found the former Middlesbrough player in space on the edge of the box. However, Gordon's shot flew high and wide.
The Tigers' midfield maestro Leo Bertos made one appearance for Barrow earlier in the season, and it seemed that the Bluebirds had the measure of the New Zealand international with Bertos not having the time and space afforded to him in previous outings.
Worksop went close when Nicholson put in a cross in the 54th minute. Both Mark Wilson and Kevin Davies were in the box and managed to have a crack on goal – but both shots were blocked by the steely Barrow rearguard.
Skipper Dempsey created Worksop's best chance of the half, when he superbly skipped past three Barrow players and let the ball run on to Wilson on the edge of the area.
But Wilson's shot was saved – much to the frustration of the travelling fans who saw that he had both time and space to get a better effort in.
It was telling that Bishop was awarded man of the match for his heroics between the sticks as he single-handedly denied Worksop from getting a point.
Kevin Davies' shot on 81 minutes looked destined for the top corner, but a full-stretch Bishop superbly managed to keep it out.
New Zealand international Pearce entered the fray late on, but despite some good movement, the 24-year-old failed to cap his Tigers debut with a goal after his long range shot flew over the Barrow crossbar on 83 minutes and the hosts held on.
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Weather for Worksop
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 26 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: East
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