MJ Williams Ends Goal Drought in Barrow's 3-0 Victory

MJ Williams has waited a long time for that feeling.

Almost two years without a goal, a summer of upheaval, a relegation still hanging in the air – and then, on Saturday, the Barrow captain finally saw the net ripple again as Sutton United were swept aside 3-0.

His strike set the tone for the Bluebirds’ first win of the season and the first victory of Adam Murray’s reign. Relief poured out of Holker Street.

“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 at the idea of his name on the scoresheet.

At 30, he knows his game. He is not the one usually crashing into the box. But that is changing.

Captain targets new dimension

Williams has never hidden the fact he wants more goals. The problem, as he sees it, has been geography – not finding himself in the right areas often enough.

“It is something I have always wanted to do is add goals but sometimes I don’t find myself in the right positions,” he said.

That, he insists, is where the work on the training ground is starting to bite. Barrow have poured hours into set-pieces, rehearsing movements, runs, second balls. Williams is now arriving where it hurts.

“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 opener against Sutton did more than break his drought. It cracked open the tension that had built over five winless outings to start the campaign, on the back of a bruising drop out of League Two.

A moment shared with scarred supporters

By full-time, the scoreline was emphatic and the mood transformed. Players and fans stayed behind to soak it in, a rare chance to celebrate together after months of grim weekends.

“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.”

Murray has hammered home the idea of unity since walking through the door in the summer. Connection, not distance. Noise, not apathy.

“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 said. “To get that 3-0 win and have the scenes at the end was brilliant for all of us.”

For once, the performance got the reward. For once, Sunday morning felt different.

Long road, big test

The challenge now is obvious: prove it was a starting point, not a one-off.

Barrow face a long haul to Worthing this weekend and a tricky assignment at Woodside Road. Williams knows the narrative only really changes if they back up last Saturday’s statement.

“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.”

That confidence has been in short supply. So has that simple, underrated joy of a winning weekend.

“The feeling around the team has been brilliant this week,” he 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.”

The mood has lifted. Training has a different edge. But Williams is not dressing it up as anything more than a platform.

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

One goal has broken his personal wait. One win has eased the club’s burden. The real question now is whether Barrow, and their captain, can turn that release into a run.