VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE

BARROW AFC 3 (Harrison 9, Bennett 60, Hannah 90pen) LINCOLN CITY 0

BARROW AFC showed their class at last as they disposed of National League leaders Lincoln City in clinical fashion at Holker Street.

The Bluebirds moved back above Dover Athletic into the play-off places with a fine display, demonstrating all the ability and skill that had recently been lacking.

A defeat to bottom-of-the-league York City on Saturday cast doubts on the ability of this side to regain the form they had shown before the New Year when going 26 games unbeaten.

And yet here they were, at their attacking and defensive best to do the double over the table-toppers as Byron Harrison, Richie Bennett and Ross Hannah all found the back of the net.

The result will do much to give confidence to a side which needed a good jolt of it and who have shown once more they can match any team in the division on their day.

It was a Barrow side which saw only one change from the weekend defeat at York, with Akil Wright coming in for Liam Hughes in midfield.

Despite that familiarity, chairman Paul Casson wrote in the match-day programme that some of his players were ‘struggling with the expectation of being in contention’ and insisted ‘we are working hard to address the glaring issues’.

Casson promised ‘there will be more new players’ – a message sure to come as good news to manager Paul Cox – though obviously only after the visit of the Imps.

The first chance went to the league leaders as a long ball into the area found the lurking presence of Matt Rhead at the back post. He outmuscled the game Nick Anderton and managed a header which went back across goal and wide of the target.

It was another long ball that set up the opening goal, as Paul Turnbull perfectly delivered a free-kick over the Lincoln defence from near halfway to find the feet of the unmarked Harrison.

Harrison, without a goal in more than a month, needed no second invitation to add his 21st of the season, sliding the ball into the far bottom corner with aplomb.

The goal gave AFC impetus and they pressed and pressed against their visitors, with Harrison and Richie Bennett playing the front line well and beating the offside trap several times, while Anderton and Jordan Williams were threats out wide with the runs and crosses.

Alex-Ray Harvey was a key presence in midfield, working hard to put in some strong tackles and not giving City time on the ball in key positions.

Another chance came from a Shaun Beeley free-kick on halfway, which went to the head of Danny Livesey, but the captain was unable to properly connect and headed wide.

Williams was then played in inside the area on the byline and put in a low cross past keeper Paul Farman and towards the feet of Bennett, only for Sean Long – brought into the team at the last minute as Sam Habergham was hurt in the warm-up – to clear it away.

At the other end, Lincoln finally threatened the Barrow goal as Terry Hawkridge hit a 25-yard curling free-kick over the wall, but Jon Flatt was across to punch it well away with ease.

Barrow’s evening experienced a setback before the half-hour, as Harrison was hurt blocking a clearance near halfway with his face. He went down and needed immediate treatment, but it turned out to be his ankle that was the issue as he hobbled off.

After treatment, Harrison returned, but he was in obvious discomfort and could not run, soon to leave the field to be replaced by Liam Hughes, with Williams pushed up front.

Bennett could have seen red before half-time as he took out Sean Raggett with a leading arm, but referee Tom Bramall decided on a booking.

The last chance of the half fell to Hughes as another long free-kick was scrambled to him and his turning shot deflected wide.

The second half started with Barrow denied an indirect free-kick inside the area for what looked a blatant backpass from Alan Power, before Flatt produced a stunning save to deny Raggett, whose powerful header from a corner was scooped up and over the bar with superb reflexes.

Livesey was alert to rise and head the ball away from Rhead as he lurked dangerously in the area, with City starting to apply more pressure.

Against the run of play, the lead was doubled.

The ball came to Turnbull 20 yards out in space, but his effort was blocked by substitute Elliot Whitehouse. The rebound came back to the Barrow man, who headed under pressure.

As appeals reverberated for a free-kick as he was challenged late, the ball came to Bennett and he appeared the only man on the field paying proper attention as he took it well and fired into the far corner, giving Farman no chance.

City needed a quick response and went close when Nathan Arnold hit an effort from 20 yards that Flatt spilled at the near post as it rocketed in his direction, but AFC were able to clear.

Moussa Diarra, who had worked so hard in defence throughout the night, saw a towering header loop wide for the Bluebirds, while Bennett made a break but shot over from 20 yards.

A quick break led to City loanee Joe Ward running into the area, but Beeley was back with him and took the power from the effort as he stuck his foot in.

Beeley was there again to clear off the line when Raggett headed on target from a corner, though the effort had little power in it.

There could have been a third goal as Williams was played through on the left of the area. He ran to the byline, cut back inside and shot, only to see Farman down to make the save at his near post.

It became 3-0 when substitute Ross Hannah went down under a challenge from Alex Woodyard on the edge of the area and stepped up to fire beyond the Imps keeper and into the back of the net as the home support cheered raucously.

Flatt saved from a Raggett header in stoppage time, but by then it was game over and Barrow were celebrating a memorable win.

Barrow AFC: Jon Flatt, Shaun Beeley, Nick Anderton, Danny Livesey, Moussa Diarra, Akil Wright, Alex-Ray Harvey, Paul Turnbull, Richie Bennett, Byron Harrison (Liam Hughes 35), Jordan Williams (Ross Hannah 89).

Substitutes Not Used: Lindon Meikle, Dan Rowe, Myles Anderson.

Yellow Cards: Bennett (37).Turnbull (74).

Lincoln City: Paul Farman, Bradley Wood, Sean Long, Luke Waterfall, Sean Raggett, Adam Power (Elliot Whitehouse 55), Nathan Arnold, Terry Hawkridge (Joe Ward 58), Alex Woodyard, Matt Rhead (Adam Marriott 70), Theo Robinson.

Substitutes Not Used: Jack Muldoon, Callum Howe.

Yellow Cards: Rhead (68), Raggett (75), Whitehouse (78).

Referee: Tom Bramall (Sheffield).

Attendance: 1,152 (124 from Lincoln).