COLCHESTER UTD 1

BARROW 4

BARROW secured a thumping 4-1 win at Colchester United to claim a club record ninth league game unbeaten.

George Ray’s brace and own goals from Will Greenidge and Zach Mitchell secured the Bluebirds’ win, after Cameron McGeehan had given the U’s a first-half lead.

Colchester winger Jayden Fevrier drilled a weak low shot straight at veteran goalkeeper Paul Farman, early on for the hosts.

And the Bluebirds fell behind in the 20th minute when Cameron McGeehan followed up to score from close range, after Farman had spilled Fevrier’s effort at the Colchester midfielder’s feet.

Barrow tried to find a route back into the game after that and responded well to the setback of conceding.

But the visitors almost fell further behind when the lively Fevrier forced Farman to push his fierce shot past the post for a corner.

The minutes added on at the end of the first half proved very eventful.

Farman twice denied Colchester’s top scorer Joe Taylor from point blank range after Tovide had picked out his team-mate in the area, following a swift break by the hosts.

And in the final seconds of the half, Barrow were denied a penalty when Gotts tumbled in the area much to the fury of their manager Pete Wild, who was sent off by referee Declan Bourne.

Gotts was stretchered off and taken straight to hospital as a result and replaced by Tom White at the break.

Colchester almost doubled their lead just after half-time when Farman denied Taylor in the six-yard box, after McGeehan had picked him out in the area.

But Barrow started the second half well and deservedly equalised in the 53rd minute when Telford’s effort from Dean Campbell’s pass came back off the crossbar and hit Colchester defender Will Greenidge under pressure from George Ray, before rolling into the empty net.

Colchester wasted a golden opportunity to go back in front five minutes later when McGeehan raced through on goal from Taylor’s pass and went past Farman but sent a weak shot past the near post and the chance went begging.

But Barrow looked lively and played with confidence after their equaliser, posing problems to the Colchester team.

Barrow made a triple change with 20 minutes to go when they sent on Emile Acquah, David Worrall and Rory Feely were sent on for Telford, Luca Stephenson and James Chester, as they went for a winner.

Gaps began to emerge at both ends as the final whistle approached, as both teams went in search of a winner.

Fevrier was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 85th minute after a foul on Elliot Newby before Ray put Barrow ahead a minute later from close range, after Colchester had failed to clear a Newby corner.

Ray then netted a third from close range for the Bluebirds in the third minute of stoppage time, from Kian Spence’s pass.

And Barrow sealed a fine away win when Zach Mitchell diverted Spence’s cross into his own net a minute later.