Barrow’s Andy Whing ‘delighted’ with unlikely matchwinner against Notts County

Barrow boss Andy Whing admitted Bluebirds’ match winner Lewis Shipley was the unlikeliest of last-gasp heroes.

Shipley’s last-ditch winner earned the Cumbrians a first victory of the campaign after Matty Dennis looked to have secured a point for Notts County with an 89th-minute equaliser.

Tyler Walker’s first Football League goal since March 2023 13 minutes from half time was also Barrow’s opening goal of the new season.

“He is a great lad,” said Whing of ex-Accrington defender Shipley.

“The lads love him so that makes it even better.

“To be honest I don’t know what a left sided centre half was doing up there if I am being honest. I will have to watch it back.

“But I am delighted for him and delighted for everyone. It means a lot because we are all close knit: the staff, the players and the community. We are all in it together, so it was a massive relief.

“I’m also delighted for Tyler as well because he has had a tough time of it with injuries in the last couple of years.

“That will do him the world of good.”

Whing was less happy as former Carlisle forward Dennis headed in the equaliser for County’s 10-men; the visitors unable to use a fifth replacement when Matty Platt was injured late on having already used their three substitute windows.

“It was a dark place in my head at that point,” he confessed.

“I thought we didn’t deserve it but we let them come on to us.

“I felt we were hanging on and they were always going to get a chance.

“So, ultimate relief when we scored again.”

County, who have not won at Holker Street in the Football League since 1970, have only one point from their opening three fourth-tier games.

Manager Martin Paterson insisted: “I am not worried but we are in a sticky spell. There is no hiding that.

“It’s like 50% of the time we are bad and 50% good.

“But in the bad we don’t stay inside the game and dig it out.

“And in the good we probably don’t punish enough.

“It seems to be when I think we are making strides we make that one silly error that concedes a goal.

“It then becomes hard for us because teams go back into their shell and say ‘come on, break us down’.

“That’s why we need to be more probing and more direct. It takes us a long time to get up the field.

“I am aware of that. We had a response in the second half to the performance in the first.

“But I am sick of saying that. It needs to be from the first whistle.”