Sutton Renew Acquaintance with Barrow
- Mark Bravery
- Nov 9, 2016
- 2 min read
Sutton face a stiff test this Saturday when they play fifth-placed Barrow at Gander Green Lane.
The Cumbrian side, financed by chairman and locally-born businessman Paul Casson who is now based in Texas, are hoping to regain the Football League place they lost in 1972 when Hereford United were elected in their place.
It’s over a quarter of a century since Sutton and Barrow last met, but they played each other four times in the 1990/91 season. In the league encounters (in what was then the Conference) Sutton won 2-1 at home but lost 3-1 at Barrow's Holker Street ground. The two sides also met in the two-legged final of the Bob Lord Trophy, the Conference League Cup. Having achieved a creditable 1-1 draw at Holker Street, Sutton won the second leg 5-0 on a rainy April evening at the Lane to triumph 6-1 on aggregate. As Sutton were relegated at the end of that season they weren't able to defend the trophy.
This season Barrow have won three and drawn four of their nine away games in the league. Familiar names in their squad include top scorer Byron Harrison, formerly with Carshalton Athletic, and towering defender Moussa Diarra, who played against Sutton for Hemel Hempstead in the FA Cup three seasons ago and last season was at Hampton & Richmond Borough.
For Sutton, defender Dean Beckwith and midfielder Bedsente Gomis return from suspension while the on-loan Portsmouth players Adam May and Brandon Haunstrup should be available again having not been given permission to play in last Saturday's FA Cup win at Dartford. Craig McAllister, Craig Dundas and Shaun Cooper are also free to play after being Cup-tied for the Dartford game.
Saturday is Resident's Day, with people who live in roads close to Sutton's ground offered tickets for this game.