CHESTER FC 3 (Archer 11, Hall-Johnson 25, Dawson 90) BARROW AFC 2 (Yussuf 45, Harrison 45)
Prior to kick-off, the Vanarama National League table did not make particularly good reading for either side; the hosts ensconced in the bottom four and Barrow only outside of it on goal difference, knowing a defeat would see them drop below the dreaded dotted line.
As full-time approached, it seemed as if it would remain as you were; Barrow had fought back from two goals down early in the match to be level just before half-time thanks to two goals in as many minutes from Byron Harrison and Adi Yussuf, and looked to have done enough to earn a share of the spoils.
There was one cruel twist in the tale for the away side though, and it came in the form of a 94th-minute finish from Lucas Dawson, who somehow managed to squeeze a shot through a crowded area after the ball had been scrambled clear by Barrow, sending the Bluebirds into the relegation zone with a 3-2 loss.
While the hosts were celebrating, there were perhaps few who felt more crestfallen than Barrow interim manager Neill Hornby.
Although only in charge on a temporary basis – having informed the club he does not want to be considered as Micky Moore’s full-time replacement – his emotions throughout the whole game were clear to see on the touchline, from frustration to joy, but ultimately to despair at the final whistle.
As expected, Hornby handed Bedsente Gomis a start after his two goals in last weekend’s 3-2 defeat at at Ebbsfleet United. However, he was not the only change from that game, with Asa Hall and Liam Hughes back in the Barrow starting line-up as well.
The visitors were forced onto the back foot early on though, and Chester’s early efforts were rewarded just 11 minutes in when debutant Jordan Archer, signed after scoring nine goals for Northern League outfit Stourbridge this season, latched onto a through-ball from Dawson and calmly slotted past Joel Dixon.
Despite this early setback, the Bluebirds remained calm and adopted a patient approach, only to struggle to find a way in behind the home defence.
Then, when Hughes was unable to gather possession in midfield, it set in motion an attack which led to Reece Hall-Johnson firing the Blues further ahead. Another home debutant, Jordan Gough, was teed up to send in a cross from the left an although it was headed clear by Tony Diagne, the ball fell perfectly for the Chester midfielder Hall-Johnson to drill home on the half-volley from 20 yards out.
Had it not been for the efforts of Hall and Paul Bignot, Barrow could well have found themselves three down five minutes before the interval – with the former blocking a shot from a home corner on their line and the latter getting his foot in the way to deny ex-Bluebird Ross Hannah with the follow-up.
Instead, a mad two minutes of added time saw the away side go in all-square, starting when Yussuf tapped the ball past Lynch to finish a counter-attack which started with a long ball down the left.
Then, just before referee Joseph Johnson was set to blow his whistle to signal the break, a mix-up in the Chester defence allowed Harrison to nip in and place past the oncoming Lynch one-on-one for an equaliser which seemed unlikely minutes earlier.
No doubt Marcus Bignot, who spent a short spell at Barrow as assistant manager this season, had some harsh words for his Chester side at half-time and they came out fired up, but failed to capitalise on some early pressure.
Barrow gradually gained a foothold in the match and started to carve out more chances of their own, only for Yussuf to fire over from outside the area after Gomis had won the ball with a crunching tackle on Ryan Astles and substitute Harry Panayiotou to head narrowly wide from Chris Clements’ cross in from the right.
It was Chester who looked likelier to snatch a winner as the match wore on though, with the home side forcing a succession of corners.
Nevertheless, it seemed as if they would hold on for a share of the spoils – particularly when Dixon managed to block substitute Offrande Zanzala’s shot from close range after he had jinked his way through the defence.
However, with the seconds ticking down, Dawson drove a dagger through the heart of the Barrow squad when he drilled a shot from just outside the box through a crowd of players into Dixon’s bottom left-hand corner, sparking wild scenes of celebration.
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