VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE

BROMLEY 0 BARROW AFC 0

IT will all go down to the final day of the season for Barrow AFC, after they miraculously held firm for a plucky point at Bromley.

The result does not change the task in hand too much, and Ady Pennock’s team will still have to beat Chester at the weekend to guarantee their National League status.

With Woking at home to play-off chasing Dover Athletic, it will go to the wire, but after riding their luck in South East London, perhaps fortune is back on their side again.

Hayes Lane is not a happy hunting ground for the Bluebirds.

On their last two visits alone, they had shipped no fewer than nine goals. That all changed this time, just when they needed it the most.

This point could still, potentially, be huge – even if the Ravens would feel they could have scored nine!

The strugglers began bravely, Luke James forcing an early corner after the home defence were caught napping.

He then went for a 35-yard pot shot with home keeper David Gregory well off his line.

Bromley’s attack is so strong that any kind of a win would have catapulted them into the top seven despite starting the evening in ninth.

They score goals, especially at home, and it is their gung-ho approach which has not only taken them to Wembley in the FA Trophy, but secured three wins back-to-back to reignite their play-off hopes.

Brandon Hanlan, fresh from his starring role against Boreham Wood where he totally changed the game after coming on, ran Barrow ragged down the right.

He closed in on goal and his shot-cum-cross was a toenail away from being turned in by Omar Bugiel. A let-off.

A big part of Pennock’s problems has been in his players’ lack of discipline.

Nathan Waterston was lucky to get just a yellow for his woefully timed challenge on Tyrone Sterling. With so many red cards to their name this season, why he risked going in so heavy so early on is anyone’s guess.

Bromley should have gone in at half-time ahead.

Hanlan worked hard, goalkeeper Steve Arnold pushed his firm shot into the path of Jordan Higgs, and after two goals in his past two games the midfielder completely lost his composure five yards out.

It was an escape moments before the break, but after the late agony at Aldershot few would argue the visitors were entitled to that stroke of good fortune.

With a point not overly helpful to either club’s needs, more was required in the second 45.

Bugiel carried the ball well and Arnold – so good at Aldershot – did not look convincing as he parried before collecting the loose ball.

Neil Smith smelt blood, chucking on their top-scoring striker Louis Dennis for defender Sterling with half an hour to go.

Barrow were not playing well. First slack marking forced Arnold to block from Jack Holland, before Dennis went from distance.

Dennis was causing real problems. He escaped down the left, showed some skill and placed the ball on a plate for Hanlan who somehow got it horribly, horribly wrong from five yards out with the goal at his mercy.

Arnold took a risk with 15 minutes to go. He ventured off his line to close Hanlan down, and the striker tried to hook it over him. Thankfully for the keeper, he did not get enough on it.

Attempting to take some pressure off, Luke James tried from distance. It was all the away side had. Jordan White, quiet all evening, then fizzed a shot past the far post from 20 yards.

Hanlan soon went over under a challenge just inside the box but referee David Rock was, for want of another word, unmoved.

Roger Johnson was next to miss, he fired inches wide when he should before at the other end Luke James’ great run almost ended in robbery.

Bromley (4-4-2): David Gregory, Alan Dunne (Luke Woolfenden 78), Jack Holland, Roger Johnson, Tyrone Sterling (Louis Dennis 59), Jordan Higgs, Frankie Raymond, Frankie Sutherland, George Porter (Adam Mekki 69), Brandon Hanlan, Omar Bugiel.

Substitutes not used: Josh Rees, Dan Johnson.

Barrow: (4-1-2-1-2): Steve Arnold 7, Callum MacDonald 6 (Harry Panayiotou 71, 6), Asa Hall 7, Moussa Diarra 6, Tony Diagne 7; Dan Jones 7; Kingsley James 7, Nathan Waterston 6 (Lewis Walters 77, 6), Bedsente Gomis 6; Jordan White 5, Luke James 7

Substitutes not used: David Fitzpatrick, Grant Holt, Ollie Cook.

Yellow Cards: Waterston.

Referee: David Rock.

Attendance: 1,331.

Star man: Asa Hall – the skipper was a key presence all over the park.