VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE

MACCLESFIELD TOWN 0 BARROW AFC 1 (Bennett 66pen)

TEN-MAN Barrow AFC enjoyed a good night at the Moss Rose as they moved above fifth-placed Dover Athletic in the race for a spot in the National League play-offs, writes ALAN FAULKNER.

Despite having Akil Wright sent-off on the hour, Richie Bennett stepped up to score from the spot and the Bluebirds claimed a first away win in the league since November.

It was a bright start for Barrow, as they pressed the Silkmen in the early stages of the game and looked to dominate possession at the Moss Rose.

The hosts were the first to get in a goal-scoring opportunity though, as Chris Holroyd cut his way through the defence, but his long-range effort was no trouble for Jon Flatt in the Barrow net.

Barrow continued to press the ball, with early chances being few and far between for either side.

Alex-Ray Harvey found himself in space in the 12th minute to flick the ball into the Silkmen box, though Bennett was flagged offside as he looked to chip Scott Flinders.

On 25 minutes, Bennett found himself in front of goal again, as he looked to score an acrobatic overhead kick as the ball was whipped in from the right, but the ball ended up on the wrong side of the post.

Two minutes later, it was Harvey who went agonisingly close, as he blasted a long-range effort towards the bottom left corner, again the effort going wide.

With two minutes until half-time, and there being very few chances for either side to score, Danny Whitaker tried his luck from range for the hosts, with his left-footed volley being caught well by Flatt.

The Silkmen got in again on the stroke of half-time, as Kingsley James set up recently-departed Bluebird Andy Haworth, but his effort was no trouble for Flatt as the ball ended up in the stands.

The second half started at a much faster pace, and Holroyd really should have put the hosts ahead as he found himself one-on-one with Flatt, with the keeper doing well to hold onto the ball from the shot.

The hosts continued to pile on the pressure, with first Connor Jennings and then Haworth heading wide of the goal in the opening 10 minutes of the second half.

It was disaster for Barrow on the hour-mark, as Wright was shown a second yellow card after a heavy challenge on Macclesfield full-back David Fitzpatrick.

Four minutes later though, the visitors were awarded a penalty due to handball.

Bennett stepped up confidently for Barrow, and sent Flinders the wrong way to put Barrow ahead.

With very few chances left in the game, Barrow controlled the game well and restricted Macclesfield’s goal-scoring opportunities for the remainder of the game, with the three points much needed for the visitors, as the club now look towards Torquay this weekend.

Macclesfield Town: Scott Flinders, Andy Halls (John McCombe, 41, Rhys Browne 88), Neill Byrne, George Pilkington, David Fitzpatrick, Andy Haworth (Luke Summerfield, 71), Kingsley James, Danny Whitaker, Mitch Hancox, Chris Holroyd, Connor Jennings.

Substitutes not used: Craig Ross, Ollie Norburn.

Barrow AFC: Jonathan Flatt 8, Luke Burke 7, Danny Livesey 7, Moussa Diarra 6, Daniel Rowe 7, Paul Turnbull 6, Akil Wright 4, Alex-Ray Harvey 7, Shaun Tuton 7 (Liam Hughes 77), Richard Bennett 9, Ross Hannah 7 (Jordan Williams, 63).

Substitutes not used: Andy Coughlin, Harry Panayiotou, Inih Effiong.

Yellow Cards: Wright (28 & 60), Burke (90+3).

Red Cards: Wright (60).

Referee: Joseph Johnson.

Attendance: 1,246 (122 Barrow supporters).