Innes Cameron bundled the ball in from close range during stoppage time as Barrow beat Gillingham 1-0 in the Emirates FA Cup first round at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium on Saturday.
Gareth Ainsworth made two changes to the starting XI that beat Shrewsbury 2-1, as Jack Daley and Robbie McKenzie returned to the team. Conor McManus missed out, while Andy Smith was named among the substitutes.
Zane Albarus made his return, as he was fit enough to be named on the bench. Michael Luxton, Sulli Booth and Louie Dayal were also named as substitutes.
Ronan Hale had Gillingham’s first sight at goal after 12 minutes. The ball was played into the feet of McKenzie, who played a smart flick behind him that allowed Hale to latch onto it. The forward shot from around 18 yards out, but could not make the right contact, and he sent it wide of the left-hand post as a result.
Harry Waldock nearly had the chance to make it two goals in two games soon after. McKenzie was involved again, playing a smart flick that allowed the oncoming Waldock to latch onto the ball. Unfortunately, the midfielder was unable to get the ball out of his feet as he made his way into the penalty area, and the ball trickled into the path of Ben Winterbottom in the Barrow goal.
Isaac Marriott had two good chances moments later. The visitors got in down the right, and the ball was played back towards Marriott on the penalty spot. His first attempt was well-blocked by the sliding Ethan Coleman, but it allowed the Barrow skipper a second chance at goal. However, Ollie Wright was bravely off his line to block the ball before gathering at the second attempt.
In the 25th minute, Hale had another sight at goal. Nick Freeman did brilliantly to keep hold of possession while under pressure from a visiting defender. He played it to Coleman, who did well to find Hale. The Northern Ireland international’s sharp turn allowed him space just outside the box to set himself before shooting, with his attempt taking a deflection wide of the target.
Barrow should have been in front moments later. Arian Allen made a bursting run down the right before delivering a fast-paced low cross. Logan Dobbs came sliding in to try and cut it out, but just missed it. Fortunately, that did enough to distract Sebastian Thompson, who could not react in time, and the ball fizzed past him.
McKenzie had a great chance seconds after that. A Barrow set piece was cleared as far as Waldock, who did enough to outmuscle the man he was marking before making a bursting run towards halfway. He did well to offload the ball to Lamin Sillah, who took a touch inside before slipping the ball in behind the visiting defence. McKenzie was making a bursting run forward, latching onto the ball ahead of Waldock before making his way into the penalty area. Winterbottom came well off his line to close down McKenzie, who had his shot blocked by the goalkeeper before it ricocheted back off him and out for a goal-kick.
In the 37th minute, McKenzie continued to be heavily involved. He made another bursting run through the middle with the ball, whilst holding off the pressure of Xavier Benjamin. He then slipped a smart pass in for Sillah, who got the ball out of his feet before getting his shot away. However, it was straight at Winterbottom.
Allen tried his luck moments later. He managed to get away down the right and entered the penalty area. He blasted a powerful strike towards the near post from a tight angle, which nestled into the side netting.
HALF-TIME: Gillingham 0-0 Barrow
In the 59th minute, Gillingham were forced into a first change when Waldock picked up a knock and was unable to continue. He was replaced by Garath McCleary.
The opening 20 minutes of the second period were quiet, with plenty of the game happening in the middle areas of the pitch, as both teams engaged in a physical battle in trying to take control of the game.
Hale nearly opened the scoring in the 75th minute. McCleary did well to use his pace to get down the right wing before cutting the ball back towards the penalty spot. Hale met it, taking a touch before sending a low drive towards the near post. His attempt beat Winterbottom, but hit the post before coming back into the visiting goalkeeper’s path.
Dobbs made a superb block soon after. The ball came out to Thompson, who struck a fierce shot first time. However, the academy graduate came sliding in to block the shot before the loose ball was cleared.
In the 79th minute, Gillingham made a double change. Armani Little and Sheldon Kendall entered the game, replacing McKenzie and Sillah respectively.
Kendall tested Winterbottom with five minutes remaining. Gills went short with a corner, playing it to McCleary, who spotted the Millwall loanee on his own on the edge of the box. He played it to the forward, who struck a sweeping attempt towards the bottom left corner first time, and Winterbottom got down to push the ball away from danger.
The visitors had a penalty appeal in the closing moments when Corey Edwards went down, but the referee felt there was not enough to constitute a foul, and he allowed the game to continue.
Wright made a superb save to deny Innes Cameron in stoppage time. A ball was floated in from the left, and the Barrow striker did enough to get a yard of space before heading towards the goal. The Southampton loanee reacted quickly and got down to make a great one-handed save to push it over the crossbar.
From the resulting corner, Cameron gave ‘The Bluebirds’ the lead. They went short from the set piece to Daniel Mooney, who cut inside onto his left foot before bending a shot towards the far corner. Cameron came running across and did enough to deflect the ball in the opposite direction and into the back of the net.
FULL-TIME: Gillingham 0-1 Barrow
Gillingham: Wright, Dobbs, Beckles, Daley, Freeman, Coleman, McKenzie (Little 78’), Brophy, Waldock (McCleary 59’), Hale, Sillah (Kendall 79’)
Unused Substitutes: Luthra, Smith, Albarus, Luxton, Booth, Dayal
Barrow: Winterbottom, Oakley, Edwards, Thompson (Mooney 83’), Allen (Lane 83’), Otegbayo (Amos 54’), Kalambayi, Harper (Cameron 54’), Marriott (Ward 84’), Benjamin, Latty-Fairweather
Unused Substitutes: Cooper, Reid, Walker, Kouyate
Referee: Harry Wager
Attendance: 4125 (187)
