We are staying up- as Barrow and Woking both lose 1-2!

[Barrow Lad New]

Barrow: Arnold, MacDonald, Diagne, Diarra, Hall, Walters, Dan Jones, Gomis, White, Holt, Luke James
80: Panayiotou replaced MacDonald, Waterston replaced Holt.
85: Fitzpatrick replaced Jones

GOAL: White (54)

Chester: Firth, Halls, Astles, Mahon, James Jones, Akintude, Crawford, Archer, Gough, Thomson, Anderson
73: Brown replaced Mahon
90: White replaced Archer

GOALS: Archer (20), Crawford (76)

Booked: Halls (90+4)

A bumper crowd of 1,788, including the 98 Chester fans, all had plenty to cheer at the end. Barrow are staying up (with one of the biggest cheers of the season for Dover’s injury time winner at Woking), while relegated Chester earned a consolation last match victory at our expense.

Barrow started well with three Lewis Walters corners in the first four minutes, the last being played short to Calum MacDonald then back to Walters who shot just right of the right post. We continued to press for another ten minutes when an awkward deflected shot from Tom Crawford tested Steve Arnold. A minute later, following a good run by Matthew Thompson, Arnold had to punch away a Craig Mahon cross- and then Jordan Gough fired over.

Back down the other end in the 19th minute, a Dan Jones shot was punched away from a corner; seconds later a Walters cross gave Grant Holt a header on goal but it was wide- and offside. From Firth’s free kick, Chester easily took out our defence for a Jordan Archer strike past Arnold for 0-1

This setback was temporarily cushioned by the news that Dover had taken the lead at Woking, just as well as Chester threatened again in the 27th minute with an Andy Halls shot deflected for a corner.

The remainder of the half petered out with Chester holding onto the lead- although in the second minute of added time a Dan Jones throw deep into the area just needed an elusive touch.

In the first minute of the second half, Chester were back on the attack as a Mahon corner was headed into the arms of Arnold. Mahon was then felled 25 yards out but Crawford’s free kick went well over the bar.

Five minutes in, good work by Gomis gave James a chance to centre the ball in the area- but Chester’s defence blocked the effort.

In the 54th minute, more good work by Diarra gave Jordan White a chance on goal from outside the area. His powerful strike thundered inside the right post for 1-1. Five minutes later he shot over from a similar position.

In the 69th minute, Walters was tripped 20 yards out, MacDonald’s free kick going inches wide. Three minutes later, a goalbound Walters shot was tipped over by Andy Firth for a Jones corner, which Asa Hall headed wide.

Chester then replaced Mahon with Nathan Brown and in the 76th minute, more defensive frailties saw Barrow outnumbered- and a ball from Brown enabling Crawford to fire Chester back into the lead.

With ten minutes of normal play remaining and the score at Woking now on a 1-1 knife-edge, Panayiotou and Waterston came on for MacDonald and Holt. Five minutes later, Fitzpatrick replaced Jones.

It was now nail-biting time as Barrow struggled to regain the initiative. In the 88th minute, a run by James Akintude gave Andy Halls a shot on Barrow’s goal. Eye were on mobile phones hoping that Woking did not score. Harry White replaced Archer for Chester and four minutes of added time was announced.

Suddenly the ground erupted as Dover had scored. “We are staying up” rang round the ground as the Bluebirds still valiantly sought the equaliser.

There was another cheer as the whistle at Woking brought home the elation- and relief- that we had survived, despite another home defeat. Barrow end the season one point ahead of Woking on 49 points, 22 gained at home and 27 away!

Goalscorer Jordan White earned Barrow's man of the match for his stunning strike. It’s now time for a well-earned rest and plan for next season’s National league campaign!

[Steelworks End]

Thanks for your reports throughout the season, Barrow Lad (original and new). Much appreciated.

[Shaun]

Thank God Almighty that Woking were shiter than us. That's it. 2017/18 can [SwearFilter] off.

[Barrow Lad New]

Cheers! It helped that we did the double over Woking back in August/December. 6 crucial points.

[Lancaster Branch]

Thank God Almighty that Woking were shiter than us. That's it. 2017/18 can [SwearFilter] off.

That should be the back page of Monday's Mail. Just that. Sums it up.

[Soulboy]

We are fortunate. Today let’s be honest we were crap.
This squad couldn’t do it against a ramshackle team when it counted. I suppose it says it all .
Thank you Dover.

[mickmike wilson]

I was just numb when the whistle went, No air punching no shouting out Yesssss, Nothing But relief that somehow we survived, Weird day, Weird ending, Total clear out required.

[Robbo_SAFC]

Delighted you stopped up, I was constantly checking the scores and was a bit anxious at one point but so glad you made it.

Hopefully you rebuild for next season and maybe we'll get a Barrow v Sunderland friendly at Holker Street!

[Barrow Lad New]

Delighted you stopped up, I was constantly checking the scores and was a bit anxious at one point but so glad you made it.

Hopefully you rebuild for next season and maybe we'll get a Barrow v Sunderland friendly at Holker Street!

Cheers Robbo_SAFC- it was a relief! A friendly would be good- thoroughly enjoyed my trip over there when we played you in the FA Cup 2nd Round.
Best wishes for your return to the Championship. Onward and upward!

[xerxes]

thoroughly enjoyed my trip over there when we played you in the FA Cup 2nd Round.

It was the 3rd round - Sunderland may be able to sample the delights of the 2nd round later this year though!

[Barrow Lad New]

thoroughly enjoyed my trip over there when we played you in the FA Cup 2nd Round.

It was the 3rd round - Sunderland may be able to sample the delights of the 2nd round later this year though!

Sorry about my typo! It was the 3rd round of course-seems so long ago we reached it......

[The Tomahawk Kid]

Delighted you stopped up, I was constantly checking the scores and was a bit anxious at one point but so glad you made it.

Hopefully you rebuild for next season and maybe we'll get a Barrow v Sunderland friendly at Holker Street!

I'd prefer Newcastle. And I'm MUFC!

[Robbo_SAFC]

Delighted you stopped up, I was constantly checking the scores and was a bit anxious at one point but so glad you made it.

Hopefully you rebuild for next season and maybe we'll get a Barrow v Sunderland friendly at Holker Street!

I'd prefer Newcastle. And I'm MUFC!

Pleased for ya

[The Tomahawk Kid]

Thanks