Walsall 0, Barrow 1 [Kay 87]

SUPERSUB Josh Kay was the last-gasp hero as battling Barrow piled the pressure on their relegation rivals last night.

Kay bagged a welcome 87th-minute winner as the Bluebirds secured back-to-back league wins for the first time since Boxing Day.

Barrow opened up a welcome three-point gap over their nearest relegation rivals ahead of the Saturday afternoon kick-offs.

Caretaker boss Rob Kelly has revitalised the squad for a second time this season as they try to ensure their Football League status.

He picked up a win against Oldham first time out before heart-breaking late defeats to Bolton and Harrogate. But wins against Mansfield and Walsall have reignited the club’s survival challenge.

Kelly’s fighting Bluebirds are three points ahead of struggling Southend with two games in hand.

And they hold a vital seven-point lead after League Two basement boys Grimsby.

Upcoming games against Grimsby and Stevenage, after a tough trip to title-chasing Cheltenham Town, could prove vital in the club’s bid to ensure they play a second season in the fourth tier after their 48-year hiatus.

Barrow travelled to the Black Country on the back of a stubborn win and clean sheet against Mansfield in midweek and were defiant in defence once again.

Interim boss Kelly made a solitary change after the welcome win at the One Call Stadium. Creative Luke James replaced influential Kay as Rob Kelly’s men restricted the Saddlers to just a handful of efforts in the final half-an-hour.

The Bluebirds had by far the better chances to earn all three points when Walsall stopper Liam Roberts was called upon either side of half time.

After Scott Quigley scuffed his shot at Roberts in the opening five minutes, Tom Davies’ looping header was smartly tipped over the bar by the Saddlers’ academy graduate.

Returning James had Barrow’s best chance, but Roberts was there again to save the striker’s effort following a mix-up in the Walsall defence.

League Two draw specialists Walsall’s best effort came through Cameron Norman, whose second-half effort was deflected wide for a corner.

The visitors had to hold firm after the hour mark after Norman’s introduction. Brian Dutton’s men become much more positive after settling for the counter attack mentality in the opening 60 minutes.

Norman’s effort was followed up by Tyreik Wright’s long-range effort, but it was a comfortable save for Joel Dixon. But Kay sent the Barrow bench into scenes of jubilation three minutes from time.

The substitute was the beneficiary of a smart Quigley flick as he bore down on goal and fired his left-footed strike from the edge of the box beyond the outstretched arm of Roberts.