BAILS, WAILS AND BELLYACHES

Barrow 0 - 2 MK Dons , League 2, 09/08/2025

Photo: Ian Allington

It's Friday, mid-August and cold drink in hand, I'm surveying the cricket field. In the balmy evening, a promising tyro of a bowler bears down on the gnarled grafter trying to navigate a faltering innings.

A swing in the air and a click of bails. Shouts of triumph as the youngster wheels away to be hoisted aloft by the older members of his team. Delighted applause bursts from the Furness CC patio.

Andrew Whing, bowled Theo (who to be fair you'd put the house on running in from the James Anderson End at Old Trafford about 15 years hence)

Lovely evening, good craic and bonding between staff and fans. Money raised in good causes. An air of optimism as the first home game of the season loomed large. Andy Whing and indeed all his staff are relatable people, seem to 'get' the area and there's been much positive talk about getting 'Barrow' type of players this year.

Positive, but changeable. A whole new midfield to gel, nine players made their debut last week in a stuffy but fruitless attempt to get something at Chesterfield. Them; capitalised on a mistake. Us; one shot on target in a one on one, keeper saves.

Another very difficult assignment loomed. The much unloved MK Dons have spent wildly in order to get out of the division and would be smarting to get over the first game's unexpected home draw.

Before this, time to negotiate the first fanzine sales of the new season. Always a pleasure, unless you are really after the reassurance of a programme and unable to locate the secret bunker where the new monthly magazine is concealed.

Perhaps they hadn't tried hard enough, as we were reminded that INTENSITY IS OUR IDENTITY on a sign which has been repatriated from the tunnel and replaced with a sleek blue sex dungeon, from where we will be able to emerge like gladiators lit in electric blue as fireworks fill the sky. Or something.

It's been a concern (to me anyway) that we are slightly undercooked in terms of game time for the season ahead and certainly there was a pre-season air about the home crowd. The walk out came and a cheery Barrovian twist, with some questionably generic lyrics welcomed the gladiators.

"I don't like that," said my companion, eschewing any marketing tweaks to build the brand.

The team sheet gave us Tom Barkhuizen from the start, after a promising cameo at Chesterfield. Innes Cameron had worked tirelessly on scraps and was again our spearhead. He was set up with a roving commission with Jackson and Newby out wide.

Off we went and for five minutes looked keen and direct, the new midfield snapping into tackles. Then MK gradually began to take control. They moved the ball well last season but this seems to have more effect with quick, willing runners making decent angles.

Sam Foley gave the ball away a couple of times- unusual but symptomatic of a hesitancy that a huge overhaul brings. It certainly wasn't winning us any second balls.

Positives, a few flickers. Sam Smith combined well with Jackson then the bright Newby. The ball went to Innes Cameron but he wanted to take a touch where no such time existed.

Are our wing backs, wing backs? Or are they part of a back five, ready to spring like cheetahs into a counter attack? Is this two up top? ' Get down the f-ing side!!' bellowed Andy Whing as well as much frowning re our lack of winning our battles.

The half time pint drift began on 26 minutes in, which is early. Half time- disappointing but a work in progress we reflected as I nibbled gingerly on an underwhelming pie (bring back Browns).

Photo: Ian Allington

What in the name of light entertainment was this? What did they say? Three brave souls had to use their balls to land in the Arc of the Covenant? And why were they being showered by Gareth and co, who resolutely refused to let anything get in the way of pitch maintenance?

'It's like It's a Knockout!' bellowed Darren Herbert; who had been unleashed onto the hallowed turf as a roving MC. Balls were launched at the arc of the corner flag and examined carefully by Ethan as Rickie Wallbank directed the carnival using semaphore with varying degrees of success.

Work in progress I thought, and settled back down for the second half. MK's little number six was again directing traffic. But we were hustling better now, Jacko blazed over after some decent head tennis, Newby was tigerish though ineffectual. Andy Whing had a touchline debate with the ref (who was poor and inconsistent like so many are). 'Nut him Andy!' bellowed the supporter next to me. The Holker Street End briefly flickered.

Aaron Nemane versus Elliot Newby was turning into an interesting duel in terms of speed and effort, however, the execution and way the game was actually affected, the MK player was light years ahead. No shade on Alex there, it was the same all over the pitch.

But we were still in it, defensively our shape does seem to work for away games at least, though it was thin gruel and of course a tightrope. Wyll Stanway (who had had a ridiculous mistake saved by a questionable linesman decision in the first half) redeemed himself with a smart, brave save as MK broke through.

Thus the inevitable happened on 73 minutes. We failed to deal with a cross from deep. Didn't win the header down and didn't react quickly enough when the ball was confidently dispatched by Alex Gilbey.

'Watching Super MK, putting on a show.' predictably sang the visitors, our fans had lapsed into depressed muttering punctuated by slightly the odd slightly hysterical 'COME ON BARROW'!

We made some subs which improved matters slightly. Isaac Fletcher has a little bit of nastiness that League 2 needs and Tyler Walker's positioning and attempts to link play was an improvement and I noticed Regan Booty was playing, but why is he sitting and Rakeen Harper further forwards.

MK game managed with the slowest double substitution in the history of association football. Then Ben Jackson replaced actual tracking back with an ineffectual wave of arms and off scorched Nemane. His dangerous cut back was blocked but Callum (he's cost a lot of money from the Championship) Paterson drilled a sharp daisy cutter into the corner.

And that was that. The game petered out, Elliot Newby got Man of the Match, for being busy I assume. Having a quick pint after in the fan zone, there was less positivity than after last week. One shot on target in two games. The lack of any cohesion, attacking threat or comfort in their positioning was concerning. But let's be adult, it is early days.

Andy Whing in an unfailingly honest but slightly bristly interview on RC afterwards was right to point out that given the newness of the team and the start we have been handed it was always going to be a tough ask.

And I agree, we need to give this team a bit more support and understanding. After all, last season proved the falsest of dawns early on. So let's be realistic folks and show a bit of maturity as we strive to progress.

However, tough questioning of that progress thus far is entirely legitimate too. For a degree of latitude to hold for what might be a couple of months, we need to see a much clearer picture of what we are trying to do as a side. On the evidence thus far we need another striker and someone that can actually play wing back.

Decide who is best for which role in a central midfield that undoubtedly has potential. Never mind square pegs and round holes- we need to work out where the holes are!

It's Sunday, mid August and I'm about to stroll back up to the cricket ground that hosted such a positive, hopeful Friday. And we need to keep that positivity and stick together with a bit of common sense.

Tuesday doesn't matter nearly as much as Notts County at home next Saturday.

Howzat? Meh.

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