Fixture: Barnet FC v Barrow AFC
Competition: Buildbase FA Trophy – Third Round
Kick-Off: 3:00 pm
Date: 8th February 2020
Venue: The Hive London
The Bees
Manager: Darren Currie
Form: DDWWW
Top Scorer: Simeon Akinola (15 Goals)
Having beaten Farsley Celtic in a Second-Round replay, the Bees will face Barrow AFC in the Third Round of the Buildbase FA Trophy on Saturday. Both sides come into this one knowing they are potentially three matches from Wembley.
After a 2-1 victory over Hartlepool United, Darren Currie’s side made it 11 games without loss, their best run of form since the late 1990s. A win against the Bluebirds would better that, but the Bees will have to look to the early 90s for their best unbeaten run, where they went 17 without loss.
Paul McCallum, who is cup-tied for this afternoon’s clash kicked off his Bees career with a goal and an assist on his debut last weekend. Currie will turn to Simeon Akinola and Josh Walker to continue their fine form as the Bees seek progression to the quarter-finals.
Barrow AFC
Nickname: The Bluebirds
Manager: Ian Evatt
Stadium: Holker Street
Form: WDDWL
Top Scorer: Scott Quigley (18 goals)
The Bluebirds have been in impressive form throughout this season as they currently sit top of the Vanarama National League table and have so far had a successful campaign in the FA Trophy. However, Evatt’s side suffered defeat in their last outing, as they fell to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Dover Athletic. The Bluebirds have won just one of their last six matches away from home.
In the first round, Ian Evatt’s side were drawn against Atherton Collieries who took the favourites to a replay with a 2-2 draw, but the Bluebirds were eventually able to get past them, defeating them 2-0 at home.
In the second round, the Bluebirds hosted FC United of Manchester and left that fixture with a much more convincing win, with that fixture finishing 7-0.
The Gaffer
Ian Evatt, the central midfielder turned central defender, had a career spanning 19 years playing for teams such as Derby County, QPR, Blackpool and Chesterfield and amassed over 500 appearances in that time.
Five years on from his return to Chesterfield where he had previously played earlier in his career, he was made caretaker manager of the side following the departure of Jack Lester but inevitably, his side were relegated. In June 2018, he was announced as the manager of the Bluebirds and officially retired in July 2019 after making an appearance, solicited by fans retweeting a tweet 1,000 times, in a friendly against his former side Blackpool.
One to Watch: Scott Quigley
Forward Scott Quigley has been instrumental in the Bluebirds’ rise up the league table having scored 18 goals and leading the race for National League top scorer. Quigley’s career started off at The New Saints before being brought by Blackpool United where a series of loan spells followed at Wrexham, Port Vale and Halifax Town.
This summer, however, Barrow were able to secure the forward on a three-year-deal having impressed at other National League rivals. His style of play has been noted as someone who despite being 6 foot 4, has a lot of pace and prefers to play with the ball at his feet.
What Currie said:
The gaffer gives a full injury update and gives his thoughts ahead of this afternoon’s cup tie below.
Where to follow the action:
If you can’t make it down to The Hive this afternoon then you can tune into iBarnet commentary with Sam Avery and Adam Fowler from 14:55.
Alternatively, there will be full match text updates over on our Twitter account, where you will also find the team news and all the post-match reaction.
