Win at Forest Green secures Barrow's Football League status

Barrow will play League Two football next season following their 2-0 win at Forest Green Rovers.

Scott Quigley and Bobby Thomas bagged first half goals as the on-form visitors took charge.

They were inches away from making it 3-0 going into half-time when Neal Eardley hit the post with a free-kick.

It was the perfect reward for a committed first-half display which saw Rob Kelly’s men frustrate the promotion-chasing hosts with their work-rate and closing down.

And the Bluebirds then showed excellent game management during the second half to take the sting out of any potential comeback and secure Football League safety.

It was epitomised by the tireless work of frontman Calvin Andrew who was making his first start since joining the club in March.

Boss Kelly made four changes to the starting line-up, with Connor Brown making his first appearance since early January.

The experienced Andrew was also joined by Eardley and Jason Taylor in the starting side.

Quigley flashed an early cross into the side-netting as the visitors negotiated a quiet opening 15 minutes.

WATCHING: Boss Rob Kelly and Sam Hird keep an eye on proceedings

It left home boss Jimmy Ball frustrated at his side’s slow passing and failure to pull Barrow’s players out of position.

Rovers scrambled clear a Tom Beadling effort after he got on the end of a Neal Eardley cross on 17 minutes.

Top scorer Quigley gave Barrow a 19th-minute lead from the penalty spot after Bobby Thomas was fouled by Udoka Godwin-Malife.

Luke McGee saved from Jason Taylor on 23 minutes as Barrow piled the pressure on.

And it paid off when Thomas smashed into the roof of the net from close range after McGee saved from Andrew on 25 minutes

HEADER: Barrow defended resolutely throughout to frustrate Forest Green

Kelly’s men successfully took the sting out of any potential quick response from Rovers.

Baily Cargill nodded wide at the front post for the shell-shocked hosts on 43 minutes.

Eardley cracked the post with a stoppage time free-kick to frustrate the rampant visitors.

Barrow continued to work hard out of possession to stop Forest Green in their tracks at the start of the second half.

Cargill saw a shot deflected for a 49th-minute corner, before Chris Stokes was booked for chopping down Quigley on 51 minutes.

Thomas glanced a header just wide from the resulting free-kick as Barrow looked to kill the game off.

FIGHT: Barrow were determined to finish what they had started

Joel Dixon pulled off an instinctive reaction save to keep out Jake Young from Scott Wagstaff’s cross on 58 minutes.

Odin Bailey failed to find the power needed to beat Dixon with a header two minutes later.

A Kane Wilson cross forced a corner on 69 minutes as the hosts enjoyed their best spell of the game.

Quigley was inches away from getting on the end of an Andrew knockdown, before Dominic Bernand was booked for dissent while appealing for a penalty.

It showed the frustration felt by the toothless home side, unable to break down the Barrow backline.