After their heavy 5-0 defeat to Blackpool on Saturday, it was calmer waters for Barrow last night as they drew 1-1 at home to Oldham Athletic.
It was the penultimate pre-season game for Pete Wild’s men and the Bluebirds manager made several changes from the side which had started against Blackpool.
The first chance of the game came on 11 minutes when Dean Campbell curled in a dangerous right wing cross and although partially cleared David Worrall was able to volley a shot which went narrowly wide.
The Bluebirds had much the better of the game in the early stages and went ahead on 18 minutes when Sam Foley thumped home a beauty after he seized onto a loose ball.
Oldham were level on 32 minutes when Joe Nuttall got up well to head home a cross from Mike Fondop.
Barrow had a chance to regain the lead right on half-time but Emile Acquah headed over from another pinpoint cross from Worrall.
Barrow had very few chances in the second half as Oldham defended solidly but there was an opportunity for Emile Acquah after good work from Junior Tiensia but his low shot was well saved by Magnus Norman.
The Bluebirds eventually created one final chance of the evening as new B-Team signing Sean Etaluku fired in a low cross to Rory Feely, but the Irishman could only fire wide in the final chance of the game.
Barrow XI: Lillis, Ray, Trialist (Feely 45), Warren (Trialist 45), Worrall, Campbell, Gotts (Etaluku 79), Foley, Tiensia, Acquah (Trialist 61 (Bray 86), Duffus.
Pete Wild’s side played out a 1-1 draw against Oldham Athletic in their penultimate fixture of pre-season.
Sam Foley opened the scoring with an absolute bullet in the 18th minute before the Latics drew level midway through the second half thanks to a good header from Joe Nuttall. Barrow asked a lot of questions of the Oldham defense throughout the game but ultimately David Unsworth’s side proved stubborn to breakdown.
Having lost 5-0 to Blackpool in their previous game Wild’s side were hoping to get off to a good start tonight and were unfortunate not to be leading in the 11th minute. Dean Campbell curled a teasing cross in from the right wing, which was partially cleared into the path of David Worrall on the edge of the area who narrowly volleyed wide.
The Bluebirds continued to bombard the Athletic goal and eventually, the deadlock was broken in the 18th minute after Foley blasted a loose ball straight into the bottom corner, leaving the keeper motionless in the Oldham goal.
After an uneventful next 10 minutes, the visitors pulled level in the 32nd minute after Nuttall rose highest to head the ball into the back of the next following a looping cross from Mike Fondop.
Barrow’s final chance of the half fell to Emile Acquah, who could only head over after another teasing cross from Worrall.
Unsworth’s side heavily restricted Barrow to very few chances in the second period but the Bluebirds were very unlucky not to be in front in the 58th minute. Junior Tiensia cleverly shrugged off his marker on the left wing, before firing in a low cross to Acquah, whose low shot was well saved by Magnus Norman.
Tiensia caused more problems with his crosses two minutes later, when Oldham failed to clear their lines following the left-back cross which resulted in Worrall volleying the loose ball towards goal, but it was well blocked on the line.
The Latics again defended well reducing Barrow to very few chances. The Bluebirds eventually created one final chance of the evening as new B-Team signing Sean Etaluku fired in a low cross to Rory Feely, but the Irishman could only fire wide in the final chance of the game.
Barrow XI: Lillis, Ray ©, Trialist A (Feely 45), Warren (Trialist B 45), Worrall, Campbell, Gotts (Etaluku 79), Foley, Tiensia, Acquah (Trialist C 61 (Bray 86), Duffus.
Barrow have confirmed that midfielder Owen Bray and winger Sean Elaluku are the first two B-team players to sign professional contracts with the Barrow AFC following successful trial periods with the club.
Both youngsters have impressed the Bluebirds faithful when they have featured in Wild’s side throughout this year’s pre-season leading to them being offered one-year professional deals with the club, with an option for an extra year.
B team Head Coach Jason Taylor said: “We had a series of trials over the summer and since then we’ve had them in over pre-season and they’ve done well in training, done really well in pre-season. At the end of the day, they’ve caught our eye and we wanted to get them in through the door.”
He added: “Owen has a great pair of two feet on him, he’s a good size, got a good build as I’m sure the fans have seen across all the running videos from pre-season. He’s a fit lad as well and fits the profile of a player we’re after in that position so hopefully we can progress him as the season goes on and give him some first-team minutes as the aim is to get them in the first team eventually.”
Bray came through the ranks at Leeds United spending most of his youth career at Elland Road and has also spent time experiencing first-team football in non-league.
Meanwhile, Elaluku came through the ranks at Burnley where he played in the under-18s and under-21s Premier League for the Clarets, before going on to feature for a number of non-league sides before trialing with Barrow.
Taylor added: “Sean’s been very good in the games and the fans have been raving about him. Sean’s got bags of ability, he’s got pace to burn and he’s been a threat in the pre-season games he’s played in. Hopefully, we can nurture his talent and get him to produce that on a consistent basis.”
