By Paul Watson

Barrow 0
Runcorn Town 1

TOWN had never reached the second qualifying round of the FA Cup before and had not been blessed with an easy route to it, with victories against Bootle, Goole and Witton Albion booking this trip north.

The welcome the club received from everyone at Barrow AFC was overwhelming.

Holker Street Stadium stood out, a daunting football ground steeped in Football League history with tall floodlight towers and a playing surface prepared just like a big green carpet, perfect for football.

The early pace of the game set by Barrow was concerning but Town did not lack on the fitness side.

Runcorn did well to withstand the open period of pressure and began to gain more of the ball, and a superb pass from Keddie found Webb, who hit a fierce shot just wide of the upright.

The best chance of the half fell to Barrow’s McWilliams, who headed an inch-perfect cross from advanced full-back Burns inches over the crossbar to the relief of the Town defence.

You could see the confidence growing in the Runcorn team as Breen and Shanley worked tirelessly to close down the Barrow defence.

The first half finished with both defences in control and a tasty tussle developing in midfield.

Runcorn took the lead in the 70th minute when Andy Potter picked the ball up midway in his own half and ran at the Barrow defence.

With Breen and Shanley peeling off wide, a gap appeared down the middle. Potter advanced and unleashed a shot that was flying into the top corner until it struck Willis and deflected past Taylor into the opposite side of the goal, leaving the keeper stranded.

Four minutes of added-on time resulted in just one clear opportunity for Barrow, a lastminute header from Ellison being pushed over the crossbar by Plant.

Barrow keeper Taylor joined his entire team in the Runcorn area, but when the corner was headed clear by Spearritt that was it.

The Barrow supporters sportingly clapped the Runcorn team off the pitch and later out of the social club and ground after the team had enjoyed the hospitality generously provided by the hosts.

Runcorn Town’s reward in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup is a home tie against Stokebased Norton United of the Evo Stick North on Saturday, October 11, 3pm kick-off.