VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE

CHESTER FC 1 (Shaw 89) BARROW AFC 2 (Bennett 2,Williams 76)

BARROW AFC climbed to sixth in the National League – only out of the play-off places on goal difference with a big win at Chester.

Richie Bennett netted after 90 seconds and Jordan Williams added a second after the break to secure a superb triumph.

Back-to-back wins, four unbeaten and only out of the play-off places on goal difference – it was a good night to be a Bluebird.

With Shaun Beeley failing a fitness test on the hamstring he tweaked at Solihull, Paul Cox was forced into two changes in defence.

Matty Platt took Beeley’s place at right-back, with Dan Rowe in for the suspended Nick Anderton on the other side of the back four.

Those were the only changes to the side who triumphed 4-2 at Solihull – though the pronunciation of Lindon Meikle’s name over the PA system suggested a new Russian signing as he was announced as Mikhail-ee. With only 16 men available, however, Cox had few options.

The limited numbers saw three forwards named on the bench – former Chester man Ross Hannah, Inih Effiong and Shaun Tuton – along with midfielder Akil Wright and keeper Andy Coughlin, with no defensive cover.

Attacking options were not needed from the start as, within 90 seconds and with their first attack of the game, AFC took the lead.

A quick attack saw Williams play a fine ball through for Bennett, who beat the offside trap and went behind the defence, slotting past Alex Lynch into the far bottom corner for his 18th of the season and the perfect start to the night for the Bluebirds.

Meikle was offside when a ball over the top from Liam Hughes looked to play him through, his loft over Lynch into the net counting for nothing but to demonstrate the attacking intent.

The flag was likewise raised when Meikle tried to pick out Bennett with a cross to the unmarked striker from the left, but the signs were all positive inside the opening 10 minutes.

It was becoming a tetchy affair as a strong but fair Alex-Ray Harvey tackle left Elliott Durrell down hurt before Jon Flatt went to take a goal-kick from his hands, only for Kane Richards to stalk him across the edge of the area.

Just as at Eastleigh, Flatt’s kick hit the opposing attacker. But whereas Matt Tubbs was allowed the score, the linesman awarded a free-kick to Barrow on this occasion.

Williams shot at Lynch for the visitors and Richards weakly at Flatt under pressure from Moussa Diarra and Danny Livesey for the home side, who were starting to see more of the ball.

Matty Platt picked up a booking for a bad late tackle on Richards as the ire of the home fans increased, Williams shooting high and wide soon after.

Meikle ran past his man into the Chester area before shooting over, while Diarra made a key intervention to get to a dangerous Evan Horwood cross in the AFC box.

Durrell forced Flatt into a good diving save as he was picked out in space on the right and let fly from 18 yards, with the Barrow keeper diving to his right to save.

Play quickly went down the other end, with Bennett inches from a second with a thunderbolt from 25 yards that hit the stanchion holding up the net.

Livesey was next with a crucial tackle as he dispossessed Johnny Hunt as he prepared to pull the trigger five yards out.

A number of Barrow players went down needing treatment either side of the break, with the home fans berating them for feigning injury – even when Harvey was forced from the field with a back issue.

The home side were furious when Richards went down in the AFC area under a challenge from Dan Rowe, with loud shouts for a penalty waved away by referee Peter Wright, who was far from a popular figure in the stands.

Hannah came off the bench and made an impact as he was just offside when one-on-one with Lynch before trying his luck from near halfway when he saw the keeper off his line, chipping him superbly but seeing the stopper track back and just tip the effort over the bar.

Chester were beginning to apply more pressure, but they went two behind as Lynch made a key error.

Williams fired in a low shot at the near post and the home keeper was down behind it, seemingly making a routine save before seeing the ball slip from his grasp and roll into the net.

It was almost three as Livesey rose with a header but saw his effort cleared from the line soon after, with Barrow now attacking with a little more confidence and Chester short on ideas.

With Dover losing at Tranmere, the two-goal margin put AFC up to fifth – above Aldershot on goals scored – but they were after more.

It was the visitors attacking with greater intent, with Hannah and Shaun Tuton linking up well and Akil Wright threatening from midfield. Yet Chester struck a late blow as captain Tom Shaw was found in space on the right of the area and he blasted past Flatt to make for a nervous conclusion and knock AFC back to sixth.

Chester FC: Alex Lynch, Theo Vassell (Wade Joyce 90), Blaine Hudson, Ryan Astles, Johnny Hunt, Elliott Durrell, Tom Shaw, Ryan Lloyd, Evan Horwood (Lucas Dawson 68), James Alabi, Kane Richards.

Substitutes Not Used: Liam Roberts, Matty Waters, Sam Hughes.

Barrow AFC: Jon Flatt, Matty Platt, Dan Rowe, Danny Livesey, Moussa Diarra, Liam Hughes, Alex-Ray Harvey (Akil Wright 56), Paul Turnbull, Richie Bennett (Shaun Tuton 77), Jordan Williams, Lindon Meikle (Ross Hannah 63).

Substitutes Not Used: Inih Effiong, Andy Coughlin.

Yellow Cards: Platt (25), Meikle (57), Williams (90).

Referee: Peter Wright.

Attendance: 1,501.