Match report: Barrow AFC beaten by Port Vale as wait to confirm survival goes on

Barrow missed the chance to secure League Two survival following a 2-0 defeat at home to Port Vale.

Tom Conlon smashed home a wonder strike from near the halfway line to give the Valiants a half-time lead.

The impressive midfielder made the game safe after he poked a rebound home following a brilliant counter-attack with 14 minutes to play.

It means Rob Kelly’s men need one more point to confirm safety following Southend’s defeat at Colchester United.

The hosts started the first half strongly but fell behind to a moment of individual brilliance from Conlon.

And they could find little response during a lacklustre second-half display in which Barrow were second best.

GOAL: The ball hits the back of the net as Port Vale press home their advantage against the Bluebirds Pictures: Mark Fletcher

Matt Platt returned from a knee injury to make his first start for the Bluebirds since the end of January.

Kgose Ntlhe and Tom Beadling also earned starts as Barrow made three changes.

The hosts faced an in-form Port Vale side who came into the game on the back of a seven-game unbeaten run under new boss Darrell Clarke.

It was the Valiants' first visit to Barrow since October 1966, when the sides drew 2-2 in Division Four.

Jason Taylor shot wide under pressure on four minutes after Ntlhe had a header cleared.

COMING TOGETHER: Scott Quigley tangles with a Port Vale defender

Bobby Thomas flicked an effort over from a Neal Eardley free-kick two minutes later.

Brad Barry, Shaun Brisley and Cristian Montano all picked up early yellow cards during a feisty opening.

Kurtis Guthrie nodded off target from a David Worrall cross on 15 minutes for the visitors.

Joel Dixon made a great save to keep out Montano during a one-on-one after 17 minutes.

It signalled a decent spell for Vale as they began to push Barrow on the back foot.

And they made it count when Conlon fired Vale ahead with a wonder volley from the edge of the centre circle on 30 minutes.

It was a perfectly executed strike after the Vale man had spotted Dixon well off his line.

Barrow vs Port Vale 20/04/21

Beadling had shouts for a penalty waved away two minutes into stoppage time after going down under a challenge.

Mark Cullen was replaced by Tom Pope at half-time with Clarke keen to experiment with league safety already assured.

Guthrie picked up a yellow card on 51 minutes following a poor challenge.

Barrow failed to make the most of a corner kick five minutes later as the half failed to ignite.

Patrick Brough fired a volley over just after the hour mark for Barrow.

Guthrie, Scott Burgess and Montano were replaced by Will Swan, Danny Whitehead and James Gibbons after 63 minutes.

Calvin Andrew and Oliver Banks were introduced by the hosts on 66 minutes for Eardley and Taylor.

Dixon saved well to keep out Conlon after Pope teed him up on 68 minutes.

But there was nothing he could do to prevent Conlon from wrapping up the points when he prodded home from 12 yards out after 76 minutes.

Scott Brown saved well to keep out a long range Brough effort, before Dixon saved from Swan with six minutes left.