CHORLEY Lynx's hopes of qualifying for the next stage of the Arriva Trains Cup suffered a severe setback when they went down to defeat against the closest rivals Barrow at Victory Park.

For most of the game Lynx were poor and only in the last 10 minutes of each half did they show anything of their true form.

Lynx started poorly and were behind inside three minutes to a Phil Atkinson penalty after being penalised for a high tackle. Lynx were struggling to cope with Clark, Henderson and Archer as they repeatedly cut through the fragile looking Lynx defence. Henderson should have touched down for Barrow in the ninth minute when he broke clear, but with the line at his mercy he threw out a wild pass which ended the move.

The inevitable try came two minutes later when Andy McClure went over with Paul Atkinson adding the conversion. Lynx were unable to make any impact on the game as they continued to squander possession and concede needless penalties. It was no surprise when they increased their advantage when Dave Clark sent Phil Atkinson through a huge gap to touch down.

Worse was to follow in the 26th minute when Dave Clark jinked his way through the Lynx defence down with Atkinson again adding the conversion to give Barrow an 18 point advantage. Suddenly Lynx found some semblance of form and after a spell of pressure Dave McConnell went over in the 32nd minute with John Braddish adding the conversion.

Four minutes later Lynx reduced the arrears further when Wayne Bloor touched down with another conversion from Braddish to leave the Lynx trailing at the interval 18-12.

Lynx started the second half looking a lot more solid than in the first, however they were undone again by poor handling in the 48th minute when a loose pass was hacked on the try line by Paul Evans, again Atkinson adding the conversion.

Barrow virtually sealed the game four minutes later when an excellent move ended with Shane Irabor touching down to give them a 16 point advantage.

As in the first half Lynx were making little impact, the nearest they came was in the 58th minute but they were called back for a forward pass.

With 10 minutes to go Mick Briggs set up a grandstand finish with a try after a spell of pressure on the Barrow line. This was followed three minutes from time with a try from Ian Hodson, converted by Mark McCully. On the final hooter Lynx thought they had touched down again but the linesman spotted a foot in touch by Eddie Kilgannon as he broke clear down the wing to leave Barrow as deserved winners.

CHORLEY LYNX... 22 BARROW RAIDERS... 28