Baird bags brace for Barn

Barn United 5

Kircubbin 1

SIX wins now on the bounce for Barn, rattling up 28 goals in the process with this Clarence Cup tie against Kircubbin at Haslett Park, which seemed to be petering out to a two-nil win for United until it was jolted back into life by a triple substitution by home boss Jim Pherson just 12 minutes from time.

As Jim explained: “At the time, it was 10 against nine; Kircubbin didn’t look like scoring, the pitch was getting very heavy, especially down the middle. The game was dying on its feet. If you had been watching this on the television, you would have turned it off!”

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However, that triple change on 77 minutes certainly shook things up, with substitute Gordon Baird helping himself to his first two goals for Barn, as well as combining with fellow substitute Warren Brown to set one up for Gary McKee.

Earlier on, though, it was one of the three taken off, Nicky Sharples, who predictably set Barn on their way, after strike partner Andy Kane had knocked on a long clearance from keeper Chris Campbell.

Sharples certainly has had people talking this week and anyone whose match had been called off could only have been impressed just two minutes from the break as he dispossessed the centre half before racing through to ram home his 13th goal in the last eight games.

There were already a few second-half niggles before referee Davy Gillen reduced it to 10-a-side on 57 minutes; right back Neil Lammey reacting after being struck by a Kircubbin man.

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And that red card made another appearance again just four minutes later, with another Kircubbin man sent off for some ill-chosen words to Mr Gillen, even though they had rightly being awarded the free-kick on the edge of the box, following Darren McKinty’s challenge.

Granted, Barn had their moments, notably when Kane couldn’t quite get enough purchase on a diving header, while Sharples really ought to have picked out his better-placed strike partner instead of going it alone at the near post.

However, after that triple change Brown and Baird combined to hatch out an opening for the onrushing McKee to tuck away Barn’s third.

There was some brief consolation for the Co Down side when they scored from the spot; Barn adamant that Dee Wakeham had won the ball cleanly in the tackle on the edge of the box.

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Minutes later, though, United had regained their three-goal lead with Baird opening his Barn account – a snappy finish after being set up nicely by fellow substitute Brown.

It was Baird who had the final say, nodding in Barn’s fifth, from a cross from the third substitute David Osborne in stoppage time.

Next Saturday, it’s back to the league where Barn, after four successive home games, travel to Wilgar Park to meet bottom club Sirocco Works.

Barn United; Campbell – Lammey, Wakeham, P Mathers, Monteith – Kelly, McKee, McKinty, Matthews (Osborne) – Sharples (Baird), Kane (Brown).