Barrow were well beaten 5-0 by Blackpool in their latest pre-season game at the SO Legal Stadium.
It was the first defeat for Pete Wild’s side in their build-up to the new season but was a comprehensive one.
He was philosophical about the result saying: “Blackpool were very, very good and look a top Division One side. But that’s what we wanted, a good test and we got it.”
The Seasiders tested the Barrow defence early on and they went ahead with a 15th minute goal from midfielder Matty Virtue who placed a shot beyond Paul Farman into the bottom corner.
Soon after Blackpool doubled their lead when a corner was headed home by Shayne Lavery.
It could have been more as Lavery headed against the post and in the scramble that followed Farman produced a good save to deny Virtue.
For the second half Blackpool made 11 changes but it did little to deter Blackpool’s attacking output.
Doug Tharme’s back post header crashed against the crossbar; Sonny Carey fired against the post before Jake Beesley tapped home the third in the 54th minute.
Blackpool made it four in the 77th minute after Rob Apter forced a defensive error which Beesley took advantage of to feed the ball into Carey’s path to dispatch.
Dean Campbell was close to a consolation for Barrow but a powerful shot was well saved by the Blackpool keeper.
The Seasiders had the chance for a fifth as Tharme had his shirt pulled and referee Jeremy Simpson pointed to the spot but Beesley couldn’t convert.
But in the final minute a fine passing move finished with Carey knocking in the fifth.
