A three-points performance – Dino Maamria praises Barrow despite late setback

Dino Maamria described Barrow’s performance in their 2-2 draw at Cheltenham as their best since he took over as the club’s fourth manager of the season.

The Bluebirds were denied a valuable victory by Isaac Hutchinson’s 90th-minute equaliser for the hosts at the EV Charger Points Stadium.

Cheltenham had led through Josh Davison, but goals from Isaac Fletcher and Josh Gordon put Barrow in front.

Despite the late setback, the point moves Maamria’s side out of the bottom two ahead, ending a run of three straight defeats since his reign started with a win over Colchester.

“Football is cruel sometimes and it was a three-points performance, but this happens sometimes,” Maamria said.

“That was our best performance since I’ve been here, although we didn’t win.

“We played some really good football. We started hesitantly, which is understandable considering what the boys have been through.

“After that we took charge of the game and when we got to the 80th minute, we started dropping off a little bit.

“It’s that mentality when we unconsciously decided to hang on to something.”

Cheltenham drew first blood when Davison finished Hutchinson’s cross after a fine ball from James Wilson out to the left in the 15th minute.

It was the on-loan forward from Tranmere’s first goal for the club.

Barrow hit back when Ben Jackson’s pass found Charlie McCann. His shot rebounded off the right post, but Fletcher reacted quickest to slot in the rebound after 39 minutes.

The visitors took the lead after Wilson tripped Tom Barkhuizen in the box, resulting in a penalty.

Gordon’s spot-kick was parried by Joe Day, but he followed up to fire home at the second attempt in the 59th minute.

Jake Bickerstaff curled a shot just wide of the right post for Cheltenham before Day made a full-stretch save to keep out Freddie Anderson’s header at the other end in the 74th minute.

But substitute George Miller’s low pass from the right was touched in by Hutchinson at the death to ensure honours finished even.

Cheltenham boss Steve Cotterill admitted he was left with mixed emotions as his side extended their unbeaten run to five games.

“We started the game really, really well, on the front foot and we ended up getting the goal to put us 1-0 up, which was good,” Cotterill said.

“Then we had a couple of decisions that went against us and sometimes we have to forget those moments in a game.

“It seemed to rock us, rather than just seeing that moment out and coming back through it and playing again.

“I thought the second part of the first half, they were the better team. In the second half, we were the better team
throughout.

“I probably think we’ve had 70 per cent of that game as the better team. What we can’t do is keep shooting ourselves in the foot by giving away silly goals.”