WHEN your dad is watching on the touchline it can be quite a torrid time for a young footballer.

But when your dad happens to be former Burnley defender Vince Overson then the pressure is really on.

However little Jack Overson rose to the challenge magnificently to turn in a man-of-the-match performance.

Playing in the heart of defence just like his man-mountain father, Jack bossed the back line and kept Blackburn's dangerous attack at bay in a manner his old man would have been proud off.

And the coaching from the sideline certainly helped.

For rather than the usual "kick it", "catch him" or "run faster" chants from parents massed on the touchline, Overson senior spoke a better game.

And despite Jack's diminutive size, dad's words of wisdom obviously made him feel like a giant. Marking a forward who was a lot bigger than him, something his dad never had to do, he used all his handy tips to maximum effect. He even found time to stroll out of defence and help set up attacks - again something his father was never used to doing!

But while Overson junior's performance caught the eye it was goals from Ricky Corvino that won the tie.

Billed as a clash of the titans, as Barrowford are on course to win the blue section of the league and Blackburn the red section, it was a game that was brimming with talent.

And in the early stages it looked as if Blackburn were going to emerge victorious as the gifted Nathan Cross, arguable the best player on the park, gave Barrowford and Kieran Atkinson in particular a torrid time.

But as the match went on, and Atkinson learnt how to deal with Cross, Barrowford began to take control.

First Connor Smith had a shot deflected wide then Anthony McArdle fired just past the post. In fairness Blackburn's quick defenders were equal to Barrowford's attack as both Adam Suligowski and Blane Mcdermott put in some timely tackles.

But there was nothing they could do to stop Corvino's opener. Controlling a hard low ball from Atkinson on the edge of the area, Corvino turned, dragged the ball back to out fox his marker and drilled the ball past Grant Jenkinson. A goal out of the top drawer though question marks have to be raised about his post-goal celebrations!

Blackburn stepped up their hunt for an equaliser and Lee Smith flashed a shot just wide. But just when it looked like Blackburn were going to hit back, Corvino raced clear from the halfway line and cooly slotted the ball home.

Barrowford keeper Shaun Laurie was then called into action as he did well to hold shots from Chris Smalley and McDermott while Lee Smith should have done better than shooting into the side netting when well placed.

However Smith did manage to test Laurie in Blackburn's next attack but the keeper was equal to his shot from the edge of the area.

But there was no denying Barrowford their big day and Overson junior marched off the pitch to his dad's approval.

Barrowford Celtic: Shaun Laurie, David Blacklock, Reece Murgatroyd, Jack Overson, Anthony McArdle, Kieran Atkinson, Callum Clarke, Ricky Corvino, Connor Smith, Danny Almond and Jay Rodriguez. Subs: Brian Hartley, Richard Whitehead and Paul Banks.

Blackburn Boys: Grant Jenkinson, Adam Suligowski, Matthew Andrew, Blane McDermott, Mark Wiggins, Mark Ratuszniak, Nathan Cross, Chris Smalley, Ashley Kendall, Jack Regan and Lee Smith. Subs: Sean Andrews and Anton Malone.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.