Fylde hotshot Rowe buzzing for a busy run-in

The gritty victory at Holker Street saw Dave Challinor’s promotion-hopefuls leapfrog rivals Dover Athletic into the final play-off position with just five games to go.

Rowe’s 23-goal tally has only been bettered across the top five divisions by Premier League duo Mo Salah (29) and Harry Kane (24) and Peterborough’s Jack Marriott (25).

And the Fylde frontman now has his sights firmly fixed on the top seven.

Rowe said: “It’s obviously really pleasing to get the six points over the bank holiday weekend.

“It puts us back into the play-offs, and although Ebbsfleet can go above us with their games in hand they still have to win them both.

“All the clubs around us, including ourselves, have tough run-ins and a lot play each other, so it’s all to play for.

“Obviously it’s a very exciting time. If you can win games regularly and see yourself placed in those play-off positions, it gives you a buzz and confidence going into games.

“We just have to do our own thing, concentrate on ourselves and keep putting in these good performances.

“Obviously we’re hoping that other sides can slip up along the way but we’d rather not have to rely on that to make the play-offs.

Rowe spent an ill-fated spell with the Cumbrian outfit back in 2012/13, and although the prolific frontman was once again subject to a frosty reception from the home supporters, he was happy to hit back with a winning display.

Rowe added: “I do enjoy going back there. Their fans always give me a bit of stick because I used to play there a while back, so it was good to score and silence the crowd.

“I don’t really mind getting the reception I do there, I find it quite funny as they try and wind me up a bit.

“However, if we win and I score, then that’s my way of responding. It doesn’t bother me – it’s just a bit of fun really.”

The 29-year-old’s strike against his previous employers put the visitors in control on the night and Rowe believes they counteracted Barrow’s own strengths to a tee.

Rowe added: “The second goal came at a very good time for us. I thought in the first half we were on top in the game but we knew they’d be a threat from set-pieces, especially from those long throws into the box, and that proved to be the case.

“However, they tend to commit bodies forward and we managed to open the scoring by countering that when they were putting us under pressure.

“After we got the second goal, I thought we would be able to see the game out and we got a third to guarantee the win.”

Fylde take on second-placed Sutton United this weekend and Rowe is hoping to exact revenge on their southern counterparts after defeat back in October.

“Saturday is of course going to be a tough game,” he sad. “When we played them away earlier in the season I thought they were a very good side.

“They knew their strengths and played a style to suit them. We were poor that day but we are a different team now.

“It was one of our worst performances of the season, so we’re looking to put that right against them on Saturday.

“We’ll treat it like any other game and try to get one step closer to securing that play-off place.”