United and Barrow will have to meet for a fourth time this season after a 1-1 draw in the FA Cup this afternoon. Leading through a Jamie Cook strike The U's were reduced to ten men as Luke Foster was sent off while conceding the penalty which saw the Bluebirds earn a replay.

With James Constable and Damian Batt both not fully fit and only on the bench there were chances for Alfie Potter, Cook and Adam Chapman to come back into the side and impress, while Barrow had three new loan signings since the league meeting just seven days earlier.

Potter almost teed up Simon Clist for a far post header inside ninety seconds but it only took nine minutes before the breakthrough came as The Yellows started brightly. Cook, always willing to drift along the front line, benefitted from Adam Murray's persistence in winning the ball and then cutting past two men. The ball went across the box for Cook on the right who cut inside his man brilliantly, wasn't closed down quickly enough, and blasted a low shot past the keeper with the help of a deflection.

It set up a very open game and Barrow came at United to make it a real cup tie. Andy Bond headed straight at Clarke on 13 minutes as Gregg Blundell floated an inviting cross to the penalty spot, but it was United creating the better openings and a Potter run and drive ended with a deflected shot for a corner on seventeen minutes, then a shot on the turn from the same player a minute later which deceived keeper Tomlinson and bobbled away from him before he was able to recover and pounce on the loose ball.

Moving the ball around nicely and with Adam Murray in impish mood in the middle of the park The U's were good value for their lead and looking set for safe passage into the next round,  but on 41 minutes the game was turned on its head. A swift break from the visitors ended with a ball through the middle for Robin Hulbert. Luke Foster ate up the ground and caught up with him but as Hulbert decelerated Foster barged into the back of him and knocked him over. Ref Jock Waugh was right there to point to the spot and then show Foster a red card. Andy Bond duly lashed the penalty past the right hand of the unlucky Ryan Clarke.

Down to ten men, United took the unlucky Potter off and brought on Ross Perry at centre half, meaning extra work for the front two of Cook and Midson.  Creighton almost put them ahead again on the stroke of half time with a magnificent volley after chesting the ball down on the edge of the box but he ball flew over the bar by inches. It did however leave United with hope for the second half despite the man disadvantage.

The ten men still had the majority of the possession in the second half and Chapman was close to converting a Midson cross as they did all they could to regain the lead. Crosses came in and were only just too strong, challenges were won, tackles were made, and the crowd roared them on.

Anyone wandering in at half time would have been hard pressed to spot the team a man light but Barrow have proved in the two league games already this season that they are resolute in defence and having stuck to their one man in attack formation were not going to give up the chance of a replay easily.

An injury to Stevie Kinniburgh meant a further adjustment, and perhaps allowed Bond to take advantage of the confusion to get in behind the defence and chip an effort on to the roof of the net, and Barrow had two or three half chances on the break to get their name solely into the hat.

They failed to take them and try as they might United just couldn't find a way through at the other end. Midson glanced a header the wrong side of the post on 82 from a looping Murray cross and the last ten minutes were pretty much one way traffic. Midson only just missed diverting a Cook shot on 87, Batt saw a header flick off his forehead as the ball flew across the box once more, but much as the crowd bayed for a winner it just wouldn't come.

Both teams now go in to the draw tomorrow afternoon and will know exactly what is at stake for the winners in the Third Round...

Att: 6,088

Away:390

Report by Chris Williams

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