agree about the ref. Thought we tried hard but as you say lacked direction. Cas tackled like a trojan. Crowd was disappointing.

The ref was clueless!! Cookes injury was tactical and imo a sending off offence! Kesiks was in no way sin bin worthy!! One touch judge looked like he was struggling to even keep up with the match. Hoping waterman learns to get a grip of his attitude before next week it let him down today!!

I think you are being a bit harsh on them, SO. Had Kyle not been sin-binned, when they scored 12 points to our six, it would have been our game. They were clinging on at the end. I don't think you are giving Barrow enough credit ;they looked a bit better than we did going forward in my opinion.

I'd rather we beat them in the Final anyway

definately deliberate.

Let's hope we can beat worky next week but they saw Whitehaven off 26. 2 so will not be a push over.

I think in a 50/50 game either side could have come away with the win and felt themselves lucky, so well done do Barrow.

Though the way Cooke was targetted at the kick off was worthy of a red card, first tackle or not.

The Dons seemed to be lacking ideas in attack, when you consider the amount of time we spent in their twenty we did very little of effect. The only positive was our defence which held up most of the game. Cooke will get injured, or miss games and we have to be able to manage without him at times, today we looked like a rudder less ship.

As for the referee and touch judges, they were an absolute joke. It isn't poor performances by teams which is driving the paying spectators away from lower league games, it is the poor standard of refereeing which today dived to an all time low.

We will need a much better TEAM performance to progress to the final.

Only if you're going on the figure announced

What happened with Cookey? I saw him having an altercation with, what I assumed was, a Barrow official on the touchline when he left the field limping - giving said person a push. I obviously missed something with talk of sendings-off. The only thing I saw was Cookey being called out of the line by the ref before Kyle's yellow card. Can someone enlighten me, please? Thanks. Having said that, I did miss the kick-off so.......

for the first time in a while I did not enjoy myself today until the end when we got the shield and here is why:

First few seconds deliberate foul play to take Cookie out and shud have been sent off, The officials were useless gave bewildering decisions for both sides I will add, Why Kesik was sin binned is still a mystery but the main fact is Barrow achieved their main objective and we were clueless at times without the direction of Cookie,

Cnt go next week as I am working but will be their when we get our revenge on Barrow in Warrington COYD DONNYTILIDIE

Cooke was targetted which should have been sending off...and we should have also be cleverer in protecting him.

Nothing much in teams today

Ref was a donkey and completely ruined what could and should have been a great game.

Agree Lee needs to chill as when wound up it affects his performance. Changing top at kick off cost us.

I worry that Robbo and Carbutt (and I do like both players) are not big enough for league above.

Why did Edwards not play - I often think I am only one that rates him? Stiffens tackling up immensly and offers options in the centre for overlap and release of ball.

Wingers try really hard but made bad errors today - Hodson really is a better player.

Had we kicked more goals the game was ours - considering star player was on bench and 10mins with man down, whilst I'm p*ssed off with result, as I think we are just making harder on selves - I dont think it was our day.

Will need Cooke, massive improvements and bigger lads up front Lawton, Edwards have to play - losing Deano for whatever reason showed today.

Hughes may also be better used as impact player.

As always IMO but I thought it took edge off getting the shield to be honest. No excuses no bull in press and overhyping - I dont care if only 5 people watch next week as long as we win....

People need to see us make that final.....

Barrows game plan all hinged on the first 5 seconds. Take cooke out of the game then see how the next 79 minutes go.

As soon as he left the field you can see what effect he has on the team.Yes he is our best player but it was plain to see that he is also the main organiser and talker as this all went to pot when he went off.

The other main thing for me was that Waterman should have been interchanged after the kick off debacle. Too busy blowing kisses to the opposition fans after a missed kick and losing concentration and letting the KO go dead. He has to sort out his discipline as it affects the team I think. He winds himself up and lets it affect his game. Hes a good player its just little things like this that lets him down sometimes.Calm down a bit Lee!

Lets hope we can win next week , learn from today and then get our own back in 2 weeks.

COYD

We need to put out our best side next week.
The side today was NOT our best side.
Tom Hodson has to start on the left wing with Sando or China on the right.
Waterman has to go back to left centre and Butters has to be fullback.

We're playing at silly buggers.

providing they are all fit, i couldn't agree more. Cooke could now be a doubt, hope he's fit, just his presence lifts the team.