Luke Foster's first goal of the season earned United a point at Barrow as United hit back. Foster's first half header from an Adam Murray free-kick cancelled out Jon Shaw's strike for Barrow as both sides battled a strong wind in a hard fought game.

Playing into the face of the gale in the first half United had to adjust with Ryan Clarke (fit after an elbow problem) just about reaching half way with his goalkicks and the ball swirling everywhere. Barrow, fresh from a fine win over Mansfield in midweek, had the opposite problem with the wind pushing their passes too long but had two long range free kicks as sighters which both flew well wide of the mark inside the first twelve minutes.

United then created their first opening after fifteen minutes as Adam Chapman's long throw caught the home side out and got James Constable in behind. He cut inside a defender, benefitted from a bobble, then fired in a fierce shot from eighteen yards which home keeper Stuart Tomlinson did very well to parry high above his head. If it had been wind assisted at the other end he wouldn't have smelt it let alone seen it.

It was always going to be a game of two halves in the conditions and on 29 the home side went ahead with a curious goal. The build up was neat enough as the ball was worked out to Neil Wainwright on the left. His cross shot was heading once again towards the terrace until it span off of a body, and as it flashed across goal Jon Shaw adjusted his body well to guide his shot on goal. Agonisingly it clipped the right hand post, pinged right along the line, clipped the opposite post and rolled almost apologetically into the back of the net.

United almost hit back on 36 as Cook slipped Green into space inside the area only for Tomlinson to get out quickly and save at his feet, but sixty seconds later they were level as Foster marked his hundredth appearance with a rare goal. Adam Murray floated an inviting free kick forward from 25 yards out on the right and Foster rose unchallenged to thump a powerful downwards header perfectly past Tomlinson and into the net by the base of the left hand post.

The magnificent away fans, who had overcome the M40 being closed to make a 500 mile round journey, rightly celebrated the goal, while Barrow will have been afraid that they had missed the boat by not taking advantage of the conditions in the first half. They had had one shot on target and one corner; United forced six corners in the first fifteen minutes of the second half as they dominated.

They still hadn't really created a clear opening, and perhaps with the conditions in mind they brought on Jack Midson on 66 and went slightly more direct as Adam Murray made way. Constable's goalbound effort almost immediately clipped a defender's heel and flew just the wrong side of the post, and the pressure was building and building as Barrow found it increasingly difficult to get out of their own half.

It's not all about the killer pass; sometimes sheer graft and determination have to drive a team forward and with Dannie Bulman the driving force The Yellows kept moving forward.Credit to Barrow who refused to succumb, and chances remained scarce despite the ball being in the Barrow half for almost 45 minutes.

Having said that, United  so nearly found a way through in the last five minutes...

First, when Constable did get a sight on 85 his low shot was blocked by Andy Bond on the line just inside the right hand post. Then with ninety seconds left they thought they had all three points as Constable's refusal to give up saw him reach a lost cause before defender and keeper, but his lob smashed against the bar and away from danger. It was as close as they were to come despite four minutes of injury time

Not a classic game but both sides gave everything in tough conditions and United can take heart from a spirited effort.

Att: 1,561

Away: 265

Report by Chris Williams

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