Clarke: Barrow can beat Fax

Barrow Raiders will need to beat Halifax for the first time in 2009 to reach the Co-operative Championship Grand Final at the first attempt.

The Raiders claimed top spot after promotion from what was National League Two but have lost three times to Fax this season.

Barrow coach Dean Clarke – reinstated after Steve Deakin left the club – believes his side are capable of beating their Yorkshire opponents.

“We lost by two points at home and by six points away,” said Clarke. “They were two close games so I’m looking forward to this one. It should be a really tasty clash.

“We’ll just concentrate on our own performance and if the result goes our way then that will be because we’ve done well with our performance.”

While tonight’s winners will reach the Grand Final the losers will have a second chance to qualify next week when they play winner’s from Friday’s Widnes-Featherstone match.