Kingstonian 5 Barrow 1

A bizarre sending off mid-way through the second half did much to turn Saturday's game at Kingsmeadow into the rout the final scoreline suggests.

Until Barrow's Marc Coates was booked for the second time, for unsporting behaviour, Ks were struggling a little to hold on to a 2-1 lead.

But substitute Gavin Holligan took full advantage of a dispirited visiting team. And had he shown more composure the margin could have been even more emphatic.

Ks started much the brighter, with Tarkan Mustapha a danger down the right. It was his cross after five minutes which Gary Patterson headed home to give Ks the perfect start.

Indeed, with Barrow looking either hesitant or static, Ks could soon have had another. On nine minutes another fine Mustapha cross was headed by Leworthy, only for ex-Spurs keeper Tony Parks to tip the ball over. A minute later, Eddie Akuamoah flicked on a Colin Luckett corner only for Mark Harris to head wide.

Barrow eventually started to tighten up. And with Ks' passes going astray the game entered a scrappy phase which lasted until half time.

Ks put themselves under pressure with their inability to clear their lines. But Barrow were only able to carve out two half-chances: Ged Kielty shot just over the bar on 26 minutes and Lee O'Keefe was denied a minute later by a Harris tackle after good approach work from Coates and Andy Mutch.

Within a minute of the re-start Ks doubled their advantage. Mustapha picked up a loose ball and threaded a pass to Leworthy, sending him clear on the right. As the veteran striker saw the defence approaching he slid an inch perfect pass into the path of the onrushing Eddie Akuamoah, who forced the ball home with a combination of right foot and knee.

Unfortunately Ks lost concentration and allowed Barrow straight back into the game. A mis-hit cross found Andy Mutch in space on the edge of the box and his swing back into the danger area was missed by all concerned until it was driven home at the far post by Mark Seagraves.

Encouraged by this, Barrow took the game to Ks. But they still failed to create any chances. The pivotal moment arrived in the 65th minute. Simon Stewart had been booked for allegedly feigning a shoulder injury after a scuffle over the taking of a free kick. And shortly afterwards Barrow's Marc Coates took it upon himself to mimic Stewart's supposed play acting. The referee failed to see the funny side and, after consultation with his assistant, booked Coates for unsporting behaviour. It was his second bookable offence, so the Red card was produced.

This knocked the stuffing out of Barrow, as Coates had been just about the best player on the pitch. And when Ks introduced all three subs on 70 minutes, including livewire Gavin Holligan, the rout began.

After 74 minutes Luckett hit a 25 yard volley at Parks. But in Ks' next attack, a minute later, Holligan slammed a left foot drive past an unmoving Parks after an excellent run and cross by Scott Corbett.

Three minutes later Kevin Rattray blasted a Luckett cross over from close-range. And on 82 minutes Holligan superbly headed home a Mustapha cross from 12 yards. The youngster could have had two or three more goals. But he had a header and a shot straight at Parks and another shot across the face of goal, all when arguably better placed than for the two he scored.

Almost unnoticed in the midst of it all, Mutch hit the post with a bending 25-yard free kick. But Ks had the last word in injury time, Corbett found himself in space behind the Barrow defence and, although forced wide by Parks, slipped the ball out to Mustapha who found the un-marked Akuamoah in the box with time and space to pick his spot and complete the rout.

Conference (top 12)

P W D L F A PTS

Cheltenham 13 8 4 1 29 13 28

Stevenage 14 7 5 2 20 11 26

Rushden & D 12 7 3 2 27 10 24

Hayes 12 7 2 3 18 16 23

Kettering 13 6 4 3 16 8 22

Kingstonian 13 6 3 4 22 20 21

Yeovil Tn 14 5 5 4 19 18 20

Hereford 13 5 4 4 15 14 19

Kiddermnstr 12 5 3 4 20 14 18

Southport 12 5 3 4 19 18 18

Northwich V 13 5 3 5 15 16 18

Hednesford 12 4 5 3 14 14 17

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.