The B Team booked their place in the final of the LFA Senior Cup with two second-half goals to knock out the holders, writes Pete Oliver.
Andy Taylor’s side now has the chance to emulate the youth team in becoming county champions when they face Burnley in the final at LFA headquarters in Leyland later this month.
Wanderers haven’t won the competition since 1991 but followed up a quarter-final win over Blackburn Rovers with a deserved success over Barrow at Lostock.
An own-goal 16 minutes from time gave Wanderers the lead before a classy finish from substitute Conor Lewis capped an impressive second-half showing to guarantee victory.
Barrow had beaten Wanderers in last season’s competition but rarely threatened to repeat the result with a side that contained some first-team experience and a handful of trialists.
Wanderers also had a varied line-up with Dubem Eze – currently on loan at Halifax Town – adding to a mix of B Team regulars and scholars.
Sonny Sharples provided the sole taste of first-team action alongside player-coach Andrew Tutte who came on the at the break to lend his know-how and nous as Wanderers took control.
There were a couple of scares around the hour mark as first-team men Charlie Kirk and Junior Tiensa had sights of goal.
But Luke Hutchinson repeated his one first-half save to keep the Bluebirds out before Taylor’s men broke the deadlock.
Most of the second half-chances had come Wanderers’ way with Eze and Mark Isong a threat after the break alongside first-year scholar Toby Ritchie, who had gone close before half-time.
Ritchie was then replaced by first-year colleague Corey Thomas and the teenager had a hand in the opening goal. Following a lovely first touch from OIlie Smith’s floated pass Thomas couldn’t beat Barrow’s trialist keeper.
Buit from the corner that followed Sam Inwood headed across goal where the ball bounced off a Bluebirds’ defender and into the net.
The lively Isong then had a couple of chances to kill off the tie but it was youth teamer Lewis who finally did it when he accepted a pass from Isong just outside the penalty area before picking his spot and curling the ball home to give the young Whites the chance of a big finish to their season.
Wanderers: Hutchinson, Westwood, Weston, Toole, Inwood, Smith, Sharples, Isong, Eze (Lewis 65), Halford (Tutte HT), Ritchie (Thomas 70). Substitutes: Dallimore, Grayson, Mawditt.