Josh Gordon scores a dramatic equaliser to earn Barrow a point at his former club Walsall

The Bluebirds twice trailed to strikes from George Miller but responded each time through George Williams’ first goal for the club and Gordon’s last-gasp header.

Victory owed as much to Barrow keeper Paul Farman, who produced a string of first-half saves to keep the Bluebirds in it in the face of a blistering start from Walsall.

But it was Gordon who had the final say, perfectly placed at the near post to head home Patrick Brough’s cross and sent the 224 travelling supporters wild.

Ongoing injury issues meant Barrow were again unable to name a full substitutes bench, with Jamie Devitt, Tom Beadling and Kgosi Ntlhe all still absent.

WALSALL, UK. OCT 23RD Josh Gordon celebrates with team mates after scoring for Barrow, and equalises to bring the score level at 2 - 2 against Walsall, during the Sky Bet League 2 match between Walsall and Barrow at the Banks' Stadium, Walsall on

Striker Dimitri Sea was also missing, having suffered a recurrence of his hamstring problem during a midweek comeback cameo off the bench in the 1-1 draw against Scunthorpe.

In another blow, Offrande Zanzala was ruled out with illness but on a positive note forward Luke James and defender Connor Brown returned from injury lay-offs to each take a place on the bench.

The Bluebirds began slowly and needed a flying Farman save three minutes in to stop Conor Wilkinson finding the top corner from 20 yards after a marauding run.

The warning was not heeded from the resulting corner as Farman twice saved headers from Wilkinson and Manny Monthe, only for Miller to tuck home the second parry from close range.

WALSALL, UK. OCT 23RD George Williams celebrates after scoring for Barrow, and equalises to bring the score level at 1 - 1 against Walsall, during the Sky Bet League 2 match between Walsall and Barrow at the Banks' Stadium, Walsall on Saturday 23rd

Farman bailed Barrow out twice more inside the opening 10 minutes, beating away a shot from Miller, who cut in from the left unchallenged, and punching away a Wilkinson free-kick.

Walsall’s Kieran Phillips curled inches wide from the edge of the box before Farman made yet another save, diving low to his left to prevent Jack Earing finding the bottom corner with a cheeky low free-kick under the wall.

Rattled, Barrow picked up three bookings in eight minutes for Ollie Banks’ high elbow on Emmanuel Osadebe plus fairly cynical fouls by Joe Grayson and Patrick Brough.

But, with their first real chance of the game the Bluebirds carved Walsall apart to level on 36 minutes, Williams timing his arrival into the box perfectly to slam home Remeao Hutton’s low cross.

They almost went ahead six minutes later as Williams’ free-kick out wide caught the wind and threatened to deceive Carl Rushworth but the backpedalling Walsall keeper managed to tip it over.

WALSALL, UK. OCT 23RD Barrow's Patrick Brough during the first half of the Sky Bet League 2 match between Walsall and Barrow at the Banks' Stadium, Walsall on Saturday 23rd October 2021. (Credit: John Cripps | MI News)

Miller put the Saddlers back ahead with a moment of magic just after the hour mark, flicking home Hayden White’s near post with an instinctive backheel.

Barrow were fuming, convinced the ball had gone out of play during White’s marauding run in the build-up to the goal and Josh Kay was cautioned for his protests.

The visitors threw on Tom White and James in a bid to salvage something and almost levelled six minutes from time but Rushworth produced a fine low save to claw out Banks’ 20-yarder.

However, the keeper could do nothing at the death as Gordon pounced to head home – although even then there was a late scare from the restart as Farman saved a low Miller shot on the turn.

Walsall (4-2-3-1): Rushworth; White, Menayese, Monthe, Ward; Labadie, Earing; Wilkinson, Osadebe (Perry 87), Phillips (Shade 63); Miller. Subs not used: Rose, Taylor, Leak, Kiernan, Khan.

Barrow (4-1-2-3): Farman; Hutton, Grayson, Ellis, Brough; Banks; Stevens (James 76), Gotts; Williams (White 69), Gordon, Kay. Subs not used: Moloney, Brown, Jones, Arthur.

Attendance: 4,508 (224 away)