Barrow made the mammoth trip to Bournemouth minus manager Phil Wilson who had been sacked on the Monday after the Bournemouth game at Holker Street with the trio of Darren Sheridan, Dave Bayliss and Paul Jones taking charge for the game at Dean Court.

Barrow straight from the kick-off took the game to their hosts and created a number of half chances before on the half hour Jason Walker curled in a shot that the Bournemouth keeper could only parry with the ball falling to Nick Rogan who with an empty goal in front of him, blasted wide.

Against the run of play Bournemouth took the lead two minutes before the interval when Scott Golbourne cut in from the right wing and let fly with a 25 yard drive which flew in off Tim Deasy’s near post.

The second half got underway with Barrow doing most of the attacking and they deservedly equalised in the 56th minute when Jason Walker played the ball through to Nick Rogan who curled a superb left foot shot into the far top corner to send the 200 travelling Barrow supporters wild.

Things got even better just seven minutes later when Jason Walker caught home

defender Josh Gowling in possession and brilliantly chipped the ball over the advancing keeper to give Barrow a 2-1 lead. Barrow should of gone further ahead when Matt Henney shot straight at the keeper when well placed and then Gowling cleared off his own line from Nick Rogan.

Barrow looked like they were going to claim their first league scalp since losing their place in the Football League in 1972 when disaster struck when Bournemouth were awarded a penalty in the 90th minute when Matt Henney was deemed to have brought down Jem Karacan. Amazing scenes then followed when two Bournemouth players argued over who was going to take the penalty. Barrow keeper Tim Deasy was unlucky when he dived the right way but the ball just crept in to break Barrow’s hearts.

In extra time Barrow despite their disappointment raised their game again and created a number of chances with Jason Walker narrowly failing to make contact with Matt Henney’s low skidding cross which had evaded the Bournemouth defence.

With the game seemingly going to penalties Barrow must of felt confident as just a week earlier Barrow had won at Workington in the Setanta Shield on penalties and earlier in the season Barrow keeper Tim Deasy had earned his side a point in the league by saving two penalties away at Tamworth.

In the third minute of injury time of extra time the cruellest of blows hit Barrow when Bournmouth’s Holland controlled a cross before volleying into the back of the Barrow net to break Barrow hearts. Holland received a red card for his celebrations but it was little consolation as Barrow bowed out despite being the better side.