BARROW 2

COLCHESTER 0

Kian Spence and substitute Sam Foley were on target as Barrow recorded back-to-back wins for the first time since last December to keep pace with the Sky Bet League Two high fliers.

Five days after beating Gillingham, Pete Wild’s side repeated the scoreline against relegation-haunted United.

Spence’s seventh goal of the season was a curling free kick in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time. And with the Cumbrians desperate to protect their advantage against dogged opponents, they broke clear late on to settle a nervy contest.

Substitute Ben Whitfield did the leg work before crossing superbly into the six-yard box for Foley to steer in his fourth of the season in the fifth minute of injury time.

Barrow’s latest victory keeps them in the play-off places and still just five points from an automatic spot.

Colchester had lost only once in eight previous games and it was easy to see why. But it was also evident why they had drawn six of that total.

In defender Niall Canavan’s absence, goalkeeper Paul Farman took the captain’s armband. And it says much about Barrow’s strength in depth that Whitfield and Dom Telford, boasting 14 goals between them, only commanded a place on the bench.

Barrow defended into the teeth of the strong wind in the first half. And they conceded the first chance as Noah Chilvers found himself in space but couldn’t keep his shot down.

Barrow’s opening opportunity was a speculative one from Cole Stockton who tried to lob keeper Owen Goodman from the centre circle. The Cumbrians then survived a double scare. Tyrell Warren looked to have handled as he tried to control a bouncing ball while Tom Hopper forced Farman to tip away for a corner.

AFC assistant boss Adam Semple was suitably annoyed by Scott Jackson’s officiating to collect a yellow card.

Emile Acquah might have given Barrow a 31st-minute lead. Stockton seized on a dreadful Tom Dallison clearance and crossed to his strike partner who failed to make a decent connection.

Injuries to Mandela Egbo and Arthur Reid forced a brief stoppage with Egbo replaced soon after by Riley Harbottle.

The injuries led to four minutes of stoppage time when Barrow seized the lead.

Spence’s free kick from just outside the area was a beauty but the decision to award the set piece for a tackle on Stockton was mystifying. Spence went close to doubling the home advantage after 52 minutes, leading the charge from halfway and finishing with a fierce shot Owen Goodman was grateful to beat away.

Colchester rang the changes approaching the hour with Bradley Ihionvien and Jayden Fevrier replacing Harry Anderson and Jayden Richardson. And the Essex outfit threatened to equalise soon after with Farman at full stretch to keep out Cameron McGeehan’s strike from 18 yards.

With 22 minutes remaining Wild shuffled his own pack, bringing on Sam Foley for Dean Campbell quickly followed by a triple change. Whitfield (for Newby), Luca Stephenson (for Warren) and Telford (for Acquah) were charged with helping to see the game to a winning conclusion. Whitfield’s appearance was a milestone 300th career game.

Fevrier was certainly a lively addition, and he was a whisker away with 16 minutes to go. But Barrow held off the challenge and finished on a high as Foley ran un challenged into the area to convert Whitfield’s inviting cross.