Barrow blow
By Adam Summers

BARROW struck three second-half blows to increase Weymouth’s losing streak to nine games at the Wessex Stadium.

The Terras fielded four new players in their line-up but after an uninspiring first half the visitors netted twice in three minutes through Mark Boyd and skipper Paul Jones to take full control.

Not even Lee McEvilly’s 69th-minute sending off for the Blue-birds could lift the home side as Jones went on to net a third to move the Cumbria outfit above Wey-mouth in the Blue Square Premier table.

Terras’ boss Alan Lewer made four changes to his starting XI with new acquisitions Adam Legzdins, Dominic Merella, Stephen Cooke and Cliff Akurang all making their debuts in place of Simon Evans, David Ryan, Billy Crook and Jermaine Palmer.

Evans and Palmer both dropped to the bench while Ryan and Crook were the unfortunate ones to miss out due to the loan quota.

Fola Onibuje and Jamie Frampton retained their substitute berths while player-coach Marcus Browning made a welcome return to the match-day squad for the first time since the 3-0 defeat against Stevenage Borough on February 14.

The Bluebirds made the better start but with their first attack the Terras went close to taking the lead when Sam Cutler’s free-kick from the right was headed in by Gavin Hoyte at the far-post in the third minute only for it to be ruled out by an offside flag.

Despite that early effort Weymouth were poor in possession with the midfield trio of Ben Gill, Sam Cutler, and Cooke all struggling to put their stamp on proceedings as Barrow looked the more lively side with the experience of McEvilly and Lee Steele up front.

Upset by his side’s lack of fluency Lewer made his way down from the Main Stand to the touchline on 20 minutes but the Bluebirds continued to come forward with McEvilly nodding a fine cross from the right straight at the grateful Legzdins.

Jake Hyde and his strike partner Akurang were receiving little service for the Terras as the game remained scrappy although the Cardiff City loanee did get a chance to run at the Barrow defence on 37 minutes only to fire a 20-yard shot a long way off target.

The Terras knew they had to lift their game in the second period and in the opening stages they enjoyed good possession in the Barrow half, only to be hit by two quick-fire goals.

Boyd opened the scoring on 51 minutes with a drive from the edge of the area after a fine lay-off by Steele before Jones flicked home a Boyd cross to double the advantage just three minutes later.

Lewer sent on Palmer for Hyde to try and provide more of an attacking threat but Barrow looked comfortable until McEvilly, who was booked in the first half for kicking the ball away, received a second yellow card on 69 minutes for a foul on Hoyte.

That gave the Terras a lift and with Fola Onibuje coming on for Cooke, the hosts threw caution to the wind and nearly got one back when Akurang tried to turn in a cross from Palmer only to see Jones clear the danger close to his own goal-line.

Onibuje then sent a header at the far post straight at Barrow keeper Tim Deasy but just as the hosts were looking to increase the pressure Jones climbed high at a corner at the other end to grab his second and wrap up the points for the visitors.