The Bluebirds have won back-to-back games for the first time since December after they ran out 2-0 winners against Colchester United this afternoon.
Going into the game, Pete Wild was forced into one change from Tuesday night’s victory over Gillingham as Niall Canavan picked a knock in training resulting in Rory Feely making his first start since our 5-3 loss to Salford City.
The began as a high-tempo affair with Colchester creating the first opportunity nine minutes into the game, when Noah Chilvers took on a right footed shot, however, the ball drifted high and wide of the left post.
Barrow responded well two minutes later when they came close to going ahead with Cole Stockton’s 50-yard strike missing high above the crossbar.
The Bluebirds came close again to leading when Dean Campbell played the ball into Robbie Gotts, who completed the move with a shot from outside the area. However, his attempt was saved well by Owen Goodman in the Colchester net.
In the midst of Barrow’s persistent pursuit of a goal, the away side had to make an early substitution in the 38th minute of the game, when Mandela Egbo was replaced by Riley Harbottle after he sustained an injury.
As the first half drew to a close, both sides were creating multiple chances to get in front, however, it was the Cumbrian side struck first. When Kian Spence finished sublimely from a free kick into the top right corner, to put the home side 1-0 up right before half time.
As the second half began, the Essex-based side created their first opportunity of the second half to get a goal back on the 52nd minute, when Cameron McGeehan played it into Harry Anderson whose shot from outside the box was blocked by the Barrow defender.
The Cumbrians afterward went straight up the other end of the pitch and created another huge chance when Spence nearly made it 2-0 after his shot was saved by Goodman in the Barrow net.
Colchester continued to look for an opening, when on 70 minutes, Harbottle found himself with another scoring opportunity, when he took on a header from the six-yard box, but it was blocked superbly by the Bluebirds defender.
As the game got closer to full time, both sides were going toe-to-toe to score the next goal of the game, with Colchester coming close on 90 minutes when Matt Jay’s right footed shot was saved well, after Goodman got down well to stop the ball nestling into the bottom right corner.
However, it was the Bluebirds who ended the game on a high, when Sam Foley scored in the last minute of stoppage time to secure a 2-0 win for the Cumbrian side, after Ben Whitfield assisted the goal following a fast break away from the home side.
After a strong battle between both sides, the three points were wrapped up thanks to goals from Spence and Foley, this result takes Barrow within seven points of third places Wrexham.
Farman, Campbell (Foley 69’), Ray, Canavan, Spence, Newby (Whitfield 73’), Gotts, Chester, Acquah (Telford 73’), Warren (Stephenson 73’), Stockton (Mazeed 80’).
Words by Dylan Whitbread
