VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE

BARROW AFC 3 CHESTER   2

BARROW AFC’s topsy-turvy campaign took a positive turn as they left Chester feeling blue thanks to Niall Cowperthwaite’s excellent strike.

A hard-fought first half delivered plenty of entertaining pockets of play.

AFC failed to build on an encouraging start as Chester got a foothold in the game and the visitors took the lead through Jordan Chappell’s calm finish.

Barrow posed an attacking threat throughout the first half and they deserved to level matters before the break. They duly did through Andy Haworth’s crisp finish.

The Bluebirds made a storming start to the second period as talismanic striker Andy Cook put his side ahead by bagging his ninth National League goal of the season.

AFC were in control, but a mistake by home stopper Joel Dixon allowed Tom Shaw to equalise.

However, Cowperthwaite ensured Barrow emerged victorious by blasting home with 13 minutes remaining.

Darren Edmondson, himself a former Chester player, made a trio of team changes.

The Bluebirds boss recalled central midfielder Alex-Ray Harvey, striker Ashley Grimes and central defender Steve Williams into his starting-XI.

Midfielder Paddy Lacey, attacker Jason Walker and centre-back Simon Grand dropped out of the side.

A lively opening saw Chester midfielder John Rooney – the brother of Manchester United and England superstar Wayne Rooney – aim a weak 20-yard effort straight at Dixon.

But AFC played at an impressively fast pace and showed plenty of hunger during the opening exchanges as they created some decent chances.

Jon Worsnop tipped over Cook’s second-minute header and, moments later, centre-back Steve Williams nodded the ball into the Blues keeper’s hands.

Cook misfired on four minutes, before Harvey also rifled in a shot that missed the target.

On 12 minutes, Haworth’s ambitious long-range strike went high and high as the pace of the game dropped.

That suited Chester and they should have scored from a corner on 14 minutes. Ben Heneghan was afforded a free header but he could only guide his effort inches wide of the right-hand post.

Two minutes later, Heneghan unleashed a shot which was turned around the post by Dixon.

The game had become tight, more scrappy and a little edgy as the rivals attempted to sniff out a first goal. Haworth drove forward on 26 minutes before his drive was blocked.

The winger then transferred the ball to Grimes, whose angled drive flashed across the goal and flew wide of the far left-hand post.

But Chester took the lead on the half-hour mark. Rooney played in Chappell, who raced in on goal and slotted the ball past the advanced Dixon.

Chester forward Ross Hannah fired over before Barrow levelled on 35 minutes. Dave Symington’s speculative shot-from-distance was deflected on to the left-hand post. The ball fell to Haworth, who lashed his low effort into the corner from around the edge of the area.

Chances were engineered in the closing minutes of the half.

Worsop gathered Symington’s 20-yarder before Rooney and Haworth traded shots which did not seriously threaten the either keeper.

Barrow made a sensational start to the second half, with Cook hitting the net on 47 minutes.

Haworth crossed from the right, with the ball eventually falling to Cook. The deadly marksman walloped his angled half-volley into the far right-hand corner.

Shaw produced a wild shot, which went significantly off target on 53 minutes.

Soon after, Worsnop displayed courage to get to the ball before Cook could pull the trigger.

Barrow were piling pressure on the visitors as Cowperthwaite’s fierce drive was deflected wide of the target.

Chester got back on to the front foot just after the hour-mark, Rooney’s well-stuck volley hitting an AFC player.

But back came Barrow and this time Haworth’s drive was deflected wide.

Chappell was unable to replicate his first-half heroics as he blasted his shot into the Holker Street End on 70 minutes.

Chester looked like they were running out of ideas in the face of determined Barrow deterplay. But Barrow wasted their good work on 72 minutes.

Dixon came to collect Rooney’s low centre but spilled the ball, and Shaw was on hand to plant the loose ball into the net.

Chester were buzzing again but there was a sting in the tail on 77 minutes.

Cowperthwaite collected possession, advanced forward and then smashed his 25-yard shot past Worsnop to grab Barrow’s third goal.

Headers from Cook and Williams went away from danger, but it did not matter as AFC got over the line.

In doing so, they returned to winning ways and bounced back from Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Altrincham.

Barrow AFC: Joel Dixon, Dave Symington, Steve Williams, Danny Livesey, Neil Ashton, Dan Pilkington, Alex-Ray Harvey, Niall Cowperthwaite, Andy Haworth, Ashley Grimes, Andy Cook.

Substitutes: Jason Walker, Anthony Wilson, David Mellor, Mo Fofana, Elliot Newby.

Chester: Jon Worsnop, Ryan Higgins, Jonny Hunt, Michael Kay, Ian Sharps, Tom Shaw, Ross Hannah, John Rooney, Jordan Chappell, Kane Richards, Ben Heneghan.

Substitutes not used: Dylan Forth, Sam Hughes, George Thomson, Craig Hobson, Tom Peers.

Referee: M Coy.

Attendance: 1,345.