Barrow AFC 1 Sutton United 0

Barrow AFC have had a few games this season where they haven’t got their reward, but they racked up another win despite never being near their best, as they edged past Sutton United at Holker Street.

Josh Kay’s deflected effort in the 51st minute proved decisive as the Bluebirds were forced to grind it out against a Sutton side whose performance belied their lowly position in the National League.

However, they demonstrated that they are now capable of finding other ways to win, rather than ways to throw points away, as was the case earlier in the season.

Their ninth victory in ten league games came despite them having to finish the game without Jason Taylor and have Josh Granite continue with a dislocated shoulder for the dying seconds, after they’d used all three subs.

A now resilient AFC are back up to fourth in the table and only two points off the top, ahead of a two-week break where they’ll be hoping to get some of their walking wounded back.

Barrow made one change from the team that won at Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday night, as Olly Dyson replaced the injured Dior Angus, although Matt Platt was fit to start after his midweek knock.

Kyel Reid had the first shot in anger for Sutton, as he chose to let fly from long range, but his effort was never troubling Joel Dixon’s goal.

It was a slightly subdued start from the Bluebirds, who had their first half-chance after 15 minutes, when Dyson pounced on a loose ball only to slash his shot high and wide.

Rather than just sit back, the struggling visitors were providing a threat, with Omar Bugiel sending a low shot skidding wide from 25 yards after the Lebanon international had been given too much space to advance into.

AFC then got away with falling asleep from a Will Randall corner, which was taken low towards Reid, who wasn’t too far off target with his first-time effort from the edge of the area.

The hosts needed a lift and they almost got one in the 33rd minute when Patrick Brough’s effort from distance took a big deflection, which looped it on to the top of the cross bar.

Platt then headed over from John Rooney’s corner at the back post, but Sutton again showed they weren’t just here to make up the numbers, as Rob Milsom send a shot from outside the area just wide of the far corner, the diving Dixon.

The home crowd were expecting better from their team in the second half and within six minutes of the restart, the mood inside the ground was much more cheerful.

It came through a lucky break, in truth, as Kay took up possession after Scott Quigley’s shot was blocked and his chip back into the box took a deflection that looped the ball into the far corner.

The Bluebirds almost doubled their lead two minutes later when Quigley helped the ball through for Jack Hindle, who was denied by a good save with his feet by Sutton goalkeeper Jamie Butler.

Sutton were still plugging away, however, and Kenny Davis almost produced a spectacular equaliser when his shot on the turn from over 30 yards looped on to the roof of the net, much to Dixon’s relief.

AFC managed to ride out what was a good spell from the U’s, but they lost Taylor with four minutes of the 90 left after he couldn’t shake off a heavy collision in midfield.

Now with a man advantage, Sutton piled on the pressure and six minutes of injury time became 11 after an injury to Granite, who struggled on up front, with sub Byron Harrison moved into defence.

However, the makeshift back three held firm to secure another three points that weren’t the prettiest, but certainly the most welcome.

Barrow AFC (3-4-1-2): Dixon, Granite, Platt, Brough, Brown, Rooney, Taylor, Kay, Hindle (Greaves 57), Quigley (Penfold 81), Dyson (Harrison 57).

Subs not used: Elsdon, Waddington.

Sutton United (4-1-4-1): Butler, Eastmond, Goodliffe, Matsuzaka, Milsom, Barden (Wright 78), Reid, Beautyman, Davis, Randall (Ajiboye 63), Bugiel (Jarvis 52).

Subs not used: Dundas, Wyatt.

Referee: Andrew Kitchen

Attendance: 1,827

Bluebirds star man: Jason Taylor