U's:2 Bluebirds:1

R.E.S.P.E.C.T obviously doesn’t mean as much to Darren Sheridan as it did to Aretha Franklin.

Barrow’s joint manager can’t have received the memo about the FA’s much heralded respect the referee’s campaing, given the abuse he directed at Amy Rayner after she had sent his player off in the dying moments of Saturday’s game.

Sheridan’s frustration level was probably pretty high after seeing his side slip to a first defeat in 20 outings, as United clipped the Bluebirds wings to record a third successive win and ascend to the top of the division.

United had shown plenty of attacking flair in their first two matches and, by keeping a lively Barrow side at bay for 45 minutes, proved they have maintained the tenacity and resolve of last years squad. Although there are undoubtedly be tougher challenges ahead, it was dropping points against the “lesser” teams that cost us a title challenge last year, and it’s never a bad thing to be top of the league, even if it’s only three games in.

Lee McEvilly saw two shots fly wide of the target, and Felino Jardim firing straight at Tim Deacy in a one-sided first half hour, while Robbie Willmott, who enjoyed another impressive outing, and forced Deacy into a good save after being put clear by a clever Mark Beesley pass.

United hit the front in the 28th minute, when a Stephen Gerrard-esque cross field ball from Paul Carden found Jardim. He cut in from the left and fired in a low shot which Deacy could only palm into the path of McEvilly, who eagerly gobbled up his third goal in two games.

Barrow looked neat and tidy, and on this showing will not be following in the footsteps of relegation fodder such as Droyslden and Farsley. However, they only really threatened from set plays, with the swirling wind causing U’s keeper Danny Potter causing no end of problems

Pottsy recovered well to save from Lee Hunt, after his punch had presented the Barrow striker with a good chance, while Dan Gleeson had to clear another effort off the line after a break down in communication between Potter and Phil Bolland.

The equaliser came from a 36th minute free kick on the left, which was whipped in by Mark Boyd and saw Paul Tait climb highest to head in at the far post. The Brabinator said afterwards that he felt it should have been disallowed, but from where I was sitting the goal looked fair enough.

However, the visitors’ joy was short lived. Jardim was fouled 35 yards from goal, and Wayne Hatswell stepped up to unleash a powerful free kick which somehow found it’s way through Deacy’s hands and into the net. Not quite as spectacular as the one against Forest Green, but they all count. 2-1.

From a defensive point of view, the second half passed fairly uneventfully, with no alarms and no surprises, as Thom Yorke might say. Having said that, Bolland was lucky to stay on the field when he lunged in on Carlos Logan, but escaped with just a yellow card. Moments later the same player tugged back Nick Rogan but received only a stern ticking off from referee Amy Rayner, a decision which incensed the Barrow bench.

As United pushed for a third, McEvilly and Beesley both missed sitters, while substitute Chris Jones was denied by Deacy. And in the closing stages Barrow’s Mike Pearson picked up a second yellow card for bringing down Jardim.

So yeah, United were pretty good, without playing as well as they did against Kiddy. It’s a bit worrying that we picked up an injury though, with Carden succumbing to ankle-knack at half time, and being replaced by Ben Farrell, fresh from his narrow escape from the clutches of Histon Village. While Faz is a more than adequate replacement, if we continue to pick up injuries at this rate we’ll have run out of players by the end of September.

Man of the Match: Wayne Hatswell – United’s free kick specialist may not have had a good pre-season, but is certainly back to his best now.

Banner of the Match: One can only hope the Bluebirds are Blue effort from the Barrow fans is meant in a post-modern, ironic fashion, because otherwise I may start to believe that people from the north really are more stupid.