Barrow is described as the 40-mile cul-de-sac, tucked away from the rest of the world up in Cumbria, but Dean Smith navigated his way out with the club’s youngsters driving their progression.
Aston Villa made sure they were stuck down no dead ends – and encouragingly saw yet another exciting talent emerge from their burgeoning academy. The way in which 19-year-old Cameron Archer left with a hat-trick on full debut suggested he has a very bright future indeed.
Archer was on loan at Solihull Moors last season and Villa assistant Craig Shakespeare admitted afterwards that they barely knew anything about him until recent weeks. They do now.
Villa were never succumbing to an upset those around these parts craved at a club that – in its second year in the fourth tier – continues to make up for lost time after decades in the doldrums.
Barrow are still reacclimatising with the Football League and improving on merely surviving is the main priority for Mark Cooper – their fourth manager in 12 months – yet this was an evening to bring the town and its club back into national focus. The £200,000 broadcast revenue will come in handy as well.
The charming old Holker Street, Barrow’s home since 1909 but bearing the name of a local hotel these days, was feverish on arguably the biggest night in the club’s history.
Each early misplaced pass by their illustrious visitors prompted roars. These occasions do not come around often. There have been trips to top-flight royalty in the past; yet none had ever before made the long, seemingly never-ending journey north and then as west as it gets.
But by the time home supporters were venting spleen at referee Martin Coy for ignoring their penalty calls just before the half-hour when Axel Tuanzebe and partner Kortney Hause tangled with the lively Ozzy Zanzala, the second-round tie was over.
Villa were already two clear. Archer confidently struck the opener, meeting Anwar El Ghazi’s centre after 10 minutes. It set the tone for Archer. ‘Cameron joined us in pre-season and caught everybody’s eye,’ assistant manager Craig Shakespeare said. ‘I hadn’t seen much of him beforehand.
‘The young lads are a really good bunch. Ashley Young has come in from Inter Milan and is on their case - pushing them, making them tidy the dressing room. That’s great for them. Sometimes they [just] need a chance. If they’re good enough, they deserve an opportunity.’
Another prospect, Jaden Philogene-Bidace, drove through the hosts 14 minutes later, leaving the unfortunate Josh Gordon with no choice but to clip him inside the box. Coy had no choice and El Ghazi, the only player to retain his place from the weekend, impishly sent a Panenka past a despairing Paul Farman.
El Ghazi made absolutely sure of Villa’s progression on the stroke of half-time, nodding in Frederic Guilbert’s deep cross.
Despite Barrow’s endeavour, that one big chance never really arrived. Villa carried on, El Ghazi splitting defenders to set Archer free and the striker – on loan at Solihull Moors earlier in the year – deftly dinked over Farman with 28 minutes remaining.
Goals five and six came later. Guilbert rattled in from the edge of the box before Archer capped a fine night by caressing into the far corner.
‘I'm frustrated because the scoreline didn't do ourselves justice,’ Cooper said. ‘We’re playing against a good team but we’ve got to be better than that.’