Cole Stockton opens Barrow account with winner against MK Dons

Posted Sunday, February 04, 2024 by PA

January loan signing Cole Stockton opened his Barrow account in style with the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win over fellow play-off hopefuls MK Dons at Holker Street.

Barrow boss Pete Wild saw his side squander a host of presentable chances in front of their home fans before Stockton struck a 78th-minute winner.

Dons keeper Filip Marschall did well to tip Elliot Newby’s strike past the post in the first half and Sam Foley and Kian Spence both missed decent chances for the home side as they fired off target towards half-time.

After the break, Barrow striker Dom Telford fluffed his lines before the unmarked Foley missed the biggest opportunity of the lot when he volleyed Dean Campbell’s cross over at the back post.

However, with time running out and a goal still proving elusive, Barrow finally made the breakthrough.

Substitute Ben Whitfield, who was a handful after being introduced just before the hour, played in Stockton to fire home his first goal for the club.

The midfielder then produced a pin-point corner for Jamie Proctor to nod over as Barrow looked to finish off their opponents.

Whitfield himself was frustrated when Marschall kept his near-post volley out and Barrow were almost made to pay for their missed chances in stoppage time, when goalkeeper Paul Farman needed to produce a great stop to deny Joe Tomlinson.