We Go On The Road With The Barrow Bravehearts!

Instead of joining the celebrations with his players in Maidenhead United’s warm away dressing room, Ady Pennock remained out in the freezing cold.

One by one, the visiting fans filtered out but it took quite a while to finally get back on the road.

Their manager was waiting for them and ensured every fan left with a bear hug, a handshake and a thank you to add to the three points they were taking back with them to the very north west.

The ten hour, 580 mile round trip was worth it. Especially considering they set off in the small hours fearing they may turn up to discover mad mid-March weather had won.

It didn’t. And thanks to Luke James’ goal just after half-time, their side did.

Pennock says the special bond is growing and on a day which saw the Bluebirds’ 1-0 victory push them three points above the drop zone, things are looking much brighter.

He said: “I’m very pleased for the boys, and for the fans as well. They spend a lot of money coming to support their team like this and they deserve a lot of credit. I wanted to say thank you to every one of them as they left and I’m glad I got that opportunity.

“The togetherness is there. They get behind the boys the whole time, even when you lose or draw they’re always with us.

“You fear the worst. Last night you hear the snow is coming and I was just praying it would be on because it would have come very tough, having to go Saturday-Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday potentially.

“We kept a good shape, even when we went down to ten men. That was our work in training coming out there. With all the games we have had cancelled, we have had time to get that part of our game right and really work on it.”

As it was, they played well in Berkshire at a place where few sides win. But even if they didn’t and won, the manager couldn’t give two hoots.

“I’m at the stage where I don’t care how we play,” said Pennock. “The wins are the only important thing and this was a massive three points for us.

“There wasn’t many wins for the teams around us, and that’s why this is so big - that’s why it’s such a massive result. We didn’t come here for a draw or anything else, and not many teams come to Maidenhead and go home with three points, but we are - that’s why we are so happy.

“I was told a couple of years ago that you have got to enjoy your wins, and that’s what we’ll do. They’re all big wins but this was a really big one.”