VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE

BARROW AFC 1 (Grand 77) CHELTENHAM TOWN 2 (Wright 2, Hall 82)

FOR 30 minutes at Holker Street on Saturday, the gulf between the top of the National League and the lower reaches of the table was a gaping chasm.

During the opening half hour, title-chasing Cheltenham Town played Barrow AFC off the park, had the home defenders chasing shadows and the Holker Street faithful fearing a massacre.

Beyond that spell, however, the Bluebirds showed just what they are capable of when they get things right, only for the old weakness of conceding soon after scoring to rear its ugly head once more.

Manager Paul Cox had spoken in midweek about Town being a benchmark for success in this division and their early speedy attacks, midfield dominance and defensive mastery made it clear why.

Yet, for all their control, when the turning point came the Robins led only 1-0 through Danny Wright’s second-minute strike and Cox was not afraid to try his hand to change the flow of the game.

Seeing his new 3-5-2 formation – including three centre-backs and three holding midfielders in the centre of the park – swamped by Cheltenham, the boss acted quickly and with purpose.

Off came Steve Williams and David Mellor, who were both among that floundering defensive core aimed at stifling the visitors, and on came winger Dan Pilkington and forward Ashley Grimes.

It was a message of intent, as Barrow switched back to a more attacking formation, and it paid off. For the remaining 60 minutes there was nothing between the teams.

Indeed, for the second half, AFC were the better side, creating the clearer-cut chances and pushing the high-fliers on to their heels.

A Simon Grand goal after 77 minutes could have been the spur to go on and win, but Town are not unbeaten in the league since September for no reason.

Instead, it was they who struck the decisive blow with eight minutes to go through Asa Hall and they who took the three points.

But they were made to fight for them dearly, something which had looked far from likely midway through the first half. ‘Men against boys,’ was how Cox described it.

It looked bleak from the first whistle as Joel Dixon came to claim the ball on the edge of his area and instead allowed Wright to kick it from his grasp.

It went out for a goal kick, but it was fair warning that the visitors were on the prowl and they soon struck as a failed attempt to play the offside trap allowed Town in again. The ball was crossed in to Wright, who chested it up, turned and fired into the back of the net for 1-0.

There were few moments of note for the hosts, with Grand heading over a long free-kick from Mellor to produce the only early half-chance.

Wright should have made it 2-0 as James Rowe floated in a cross from the left to the back post, but only a yard out he could not control his effort and it was a long way from the target.

Hall shot wide from the edge of the area through a crowd of players – something he would improve on in the crucial final stages – and Dixon was lucky to see the offside flag up when he dashed out of the area to try and clear a ball meant for Daniel Holman, only to send the Town man flying.

A quick attack down the right for the visitors saw James Dayton break into the area and play the ball to the feet of Holman, but his shot was blocked by Steve Williams and Rowe’s follow-up from near point-blank range was blocked by the quick-to-react Dixon.

A second seemed inevitable for Cheltenham, especially when Nick Wilmer-Anderton pulled down Jack Barthram – who later needed to be taken to hospital after a clash of heads with Cook – and referee Ian Hussin pointed to the spot.

Wright stepped up to take it, but was over-confident and hit a soft low effort to the left of Dixon, which he was able to get to and parry away.

The ball was in the back of the net soon after through Holman, but Mr Hussin had already blown for a foul on Grand.

Now was the moment for Cox to admit his original plans were not paying off and on came Pilkington and Grimes.

The switch to 4-4-2 worked and Jordan Williams, now deployed in a wider role, put in a cross from the left which curled and dipped and eluded stopper Dillon Phillips, before dropping beyond the far post and being cleared.

Another Williams cross was played back by Grimes to the feet of Paddy Lacey, but his shot was blocked.

Still, there were positive signs, and they were built on after the break.

Williams was again the instigator on the left, working the ball to Grimes, who picked out Cook. He turned and shot, but the ball was deflected to Pilkington, whose effort straight at Phillips was discounted by the assistant’s flag.

Pilkington was the supplier five minutes later as Cameron Burgess slipped midway inside his own half and AFC had three men in attack. The winger took the ball and fed it to Grimes, whose effort from 12 yards was palmed down and collected by Phillips.

A Jordan Williams cross-cum-shot was collected by the keeper as well, while Lacey’s speculative 35-yard effort was well off target.

The chances were going the way of the home side and they were rewarded when a Pilkington corner across the goal-line was missed by keeper and defence alike and Grand was able to tap in near the far post.

The equaliser was much deserved, but hope that the tide could turn had barely been formed when it evaporated.

Town pushed back at the Holker Street End and threw men forward in numbers. The ball came into the area and could only be half-cleared to Hall 15 yards out, who skimmed an effort low into the far corner. Barrow had been level for only five minutes.

It was a goal which showed why Cheltenham are one of the top teams in the division – encapsulating a determination never to give up.

Cook did have one half-chance for Barrow before the end, but the visitors held on and took the points which had seemed destined to be theirs in much easier fashion earlier in the afternoon.