BARROW AFC 2 (Bennett, 43; Harrison, 88) BRAINTREE TOWN 1 (Isaac (pen), 22)

NOTHING perhaps better encapsulated just exactly the sort of afternoon Barrow AFC had against Braintree Town than the varying fortunes of Byron Harrison during Saturday’s Vanarama National League encounter.

It was Harrison whose clumsy foul on Jack Midson while back to defend a free-kick which led to the visitors taking the lead from the penalty spot after 22 minutes.

But it was also Harrison’s header coming back off the bar which led to strike partner Richie Bennett levelling for the hosts against the run of play three minutes before half time.

And – maybe fittingly, given the way things were going – it was none other than Harrison who was on hand to grab the winner two minutes from time with his final act of the match before being substituted. From the ridiculous to the sublime, from villain to hero, and redemption for both the 29-year-old and his team-mates as the Bluebirds kept their unbeaten start to the season at the Furness Building Society Stadium intact.

Such things though, as Barrow manager Paul Cox observed in his post-match dissection of proceedings, are what give the beautiful game its beauty. The handful of Braintree fans who decided to brave the 600-plus-mile round-trip from Essex might not have felt quite the same way though.

They would have undoubtedly arrived with the same sort of confidence Jamie Day’s men arrived on the Furness peninsular with, having secured their first win of the season at home to Aldershot Town last weekend.

And for much of the first half, they looked like they had every right to be confident, cutting through the midfield an out-of-sorts Barrow side with some swift counter-attacks and thwarting what attacks the hosts did manage to muster by getting numbers behind the ball and isolating players.

Barrow were not exactly endearing themselves to referee Peter Wright either, but the official was left with little choice but to point to the spot when Midson went down in the box after tangling with Harrison when a free-kick out on the right was sent into the box.

Chez Isaac duly obliged from the resulting spot kick, sending home goalkeeper Josh Dixon – who had done well to deny Midson after seven minutes – the wrong way, and few would argue it was a deserved lead for the visitors.

Perhaps what Braintree did not count on, though, was the determination of Barrow’s Jordan Williams. Anyone can, of course, work hard and chase after seemingly lost causes, but it takes something special to be able seize a game by the scruff of the neck in the manner the left-sided midfielder did.

Williams, who was deservedly named man of the match, kept Braintree right-back Barney Williams on his toes with his probing runs and his long-throws caused no end of problems for the defence, with Mouassa Diarra his favoured target.

It was Diarra’s flick-on from a Williams throw-in which Harrison nodded against the bar in the 43rd minute, but Bennett was in the right place at the right time to head home on the rebound, justifying Cox’s decision to hand him a recall to the starting line-up.

That goal perhaps saved Barrow from a half-time tongue-lashing by Cox as well and whatever words he had for his team clearly worked as they started to grow into the match when play resumed.

The second half proved much more open, but the best of the chances fell to Barrow and it was thanks to some impressive interventions from Braintree keeper Jamie Butler that the visitors were able to remain on level terms.

Indeed, it was increasingly looking like it would finish honours even.

That was until the 88th minute when another Williams throw-in was cleared only as far as Alex-Ray Harvey and though his shot from just outside the box hit the foot of the post, Harrison was there to tuck what proved to be the winner past Butler.

BARROW AFC (4-4-2): Joel Dixon 6; Dom Smith 7, Danny Livesey 7, Moussa Diarra 7, Nick Anderton 6; Lindon Meikle 6 (Andy Haworth, 81, 7), Alex-Ray Harvey 6, Andy Parry 6, Jordan Williams 8; Richard Bennett 7, Byron Harrison 7 (Liam Hughes, 88). Subs not used: Ross Hannah, Paul Turnbull, Ryan Yates.

BRAINTREE TOWN (4-3-3): Jamie Butler; Barney Williams, Jon Ashton, Jake Goodman, Jerome Okimo; Sam Corne, Chez Isaac, Harry Lee; Jack Midson, Michael Cheek (Craig Braham-Brown, 49), Simeon Akinola. Subs not used: Ian Gayle, Joe Maybanks, Zac Fagan, Rohdell Gordon. Yellow cards: Barrow – Richard Bennett (13), Dom Smith (47), Alex-Ray Harvey (50). Braintree Town – Jerome Okimo (67), Craig Braham-Barrett (71), Barney Williams (87).

Referee: Peter Wright.

Attendance: 966.

Next game: North Ferriby United away (Today, 3pm).

Barrow star man: JORDAN WILLIAMS. He was always looking to make something happen when on the ball and asked questions of Braintree's defence all afternoon both in open play and with his long throws into the box – two of which led to goals.