Barrow Captain MJ Williams Breaks Goal Drought in 3-0 Victory
MJ Williams had almost forgotten the feeling.
Nearly two years without a goal, a summer of upheaval, and a bruising relegation behind him, the Barrow captain finally saw the net ripple again last Saturday. His strike set the tone in a 3-0 win over Sutton United, a result that not only broke their winless start to the season but also handed new boss Adam Murray his first victory in charge.
For Williams, it felt overdue.
“It was a bit of a shock really but I think I’ve been due one,” he told BBC Radio Cumbria, still sounding slightly amused at the idea of his name on the scoresheet. The 30-year-old has never been known as a regular scorer, but that is exactly what he wants to change.
Set-pieces, scars and a reset
Relegation from League Two still hangs over the club. Six games into the new campaign, that first win had started to feel heavier with every passing week. The release at full-time against Sutton said everything.
“It has been tough for the fans, I’ve never wanted it to be like that, obviously going on from last season,” Williams admitted. “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.”
The goal itself was no accident. Williams pointed to the work going on behind the scenes, especially from dead-ball situations.
“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.”
That word – “massive” – keeps coming up. Massive for the fans. Massive for the dressing room. Massive for Murray, who has spoken since arriving about knitting the whole club back together.
“Since the gaffer has come in, he has spoken about wanting to be all together and have that connection with the fans,” Williams said. “I think in some of our performances we have deserved more from games. To get that 3-0 win and have the scenes at the end was brilliant for all of us.”
Long road to Worthing
There is no time to linger on that feel-good afternoon. Barrow now face a long trip to Worthing and a test of whether that Sutton result was a turning point or a one-off.
“We all know it is a long journey but it is a massive game for us,” Williams said. “It will be a big week for us, we need to go there and put on a good performance.”
No hiding places, no caveats.
“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 has shifted. Training feels lighter. The weight of that first victory is gone, replaced by something Barrow barely tasted last season.
“The feeling around the team has been brilliant this week,” Williams said. “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. 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.”
That relief cannot turn into comfort. Williams knows it, and so do his team-mates.
“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 goal has lifted a captain, a dressing room and a fanbase. The next question is simple: can Barrow turn that single step into a genuine march forward?
