MJ Williams Finally Scores for Barrow in 3-0 Victory

MJ Williams had waited almost two years for a goal. When it finally came, it felt like a weight dropping off his shoulders – and maybe off a club’s, too.

The Barrow captain struck the opener in last weekend’s 3-0 win over Sutton United, a result that not only delivered his long-overdue goal but also handed new boss Adam Murray his first victory since taking charge in the summer. After five winless outings to start life back in non-league following relegation from League Two, it mattered.

“It was a bit of a shock really but I think I’ve been due one,” Williams told BBC Radio Cumbria, still sounding slightly amused by the moment.

He has never been a prolific scorer, more often the one breaking up play than finishing it, and he admitted that has held him back in front of goal. “It is something I have always wanted to do is add goals but sometimes I don’t find myself in the right positions.”

That, he says, is changing. Barrow have been drilling set-pieces hard under Murray and the captain is starting to profit.

“We work a lot on set-pieces, so I am finding myself in better positions now. It is a massive part of our game and I want to add more goals to my game and hopefully I can this season.”

The strike set Barrow on their way to a first win of the campaign at the sixth attempt. The final whistle brought something they had almost forgotten: joy. Real, unfiltered, shared joy.

“It has been tough for the fans, I’ve never wanted it to be like that, obviously going on from last season,” Williams said. “They have been through some tough times, as the club has, and to have that moment with them at the end of the game was massive.”

Those scenes – players and supporters locked in celebration after a convincing home win – felt like a break from the grind of the past year. Relegation scars do not fade quickly, but this was at least a start.

“Since the gaffer has come in, he has spoken about wanting to be all together and have that connection with the fans, and I think in some of our performances we have deserved more from games,” Williams added. “To get that 3-0 win and have the scenes at the end was brilliant for all of us.”

Long road to Worthing, no room for excuses

The challenge now is obvious: prove it wasn’t a one-off.

Barrow face a long journey to Worthing this weekend and Williams is intent on dragging that positive energy all the way to Woodside Road.

“We all know it is a long journey but it is a massive game for us,” he said. “It will be a big week for us, we need to go there and put on a good performance. There are no excuses in this game, we will get down there, prepare right and go there with confidence after that first win we have had.”

The mood, he says, has flipped. A single victory can do that in football, especially after a barren run.

“The feeling around the team has been brilliant this week. When you are not winning it is tough but to wake up on a Sunday knowing you have won on a Saturday is a bit of a relief,” he admitted. “Last season we didn’t have many of those feelings and it is not nice in football to be coming in when you are not winning.”

The relief has been welcome. The hard part starts again on Saturday.

“This week has been brilliant for all of us but it is important now that we get back on it on Saturday and get a massive three points.”

One long-awaited goal has lifted the captain. Barrow now need to show that one cathartic afternoon against Sutton can be the spark that drags an entire season in a different direction.