BARROW 1
TRANMERE ROVERS 2

Barrow’s bid to end the year on a winning note ended in a disappointing 2-1 late defeat to Tranmere Rovers at Holker Street.

Rovers finished with 10-men after the 77th-minute dismissal of substitute Paul Lewis. Despite their numerical disadvantage, the visitors struck a winner five minutes later as captain Kane Hemmings’ clinched three points.

Barrow, now dropped to ninth in League Two, are without a win in five in all competitions.

They cancelled out Jordan Turnbull’s fifth-minute opener through Jordan Stevens after 38 minutes but couldn’t prevent 2022 ending on a losing note.

Having conceded early against Swindon in their last home game, Barrow suffered another faltering start.

From the game’s opening corner curled in by Ethan Bristow, defender Turnbull bundled the ball home from close range.

Ben Whitfield responded by firing a low shot saved by Ross Doohan. And when Barrow gained their own first corner after 20 minutes, Niall Canavan’s effort was scrambled clear from close to the line.

But it was scrappy in between with Rovers comfortably protecting their advantage.

And when Tyrell Warren was dispossessed, powerful striker Joel Mumbongo shaved Lillis’s right hand upright with his 18-yard drive.

And despite the score board briefly displaying a 2-0 score line, the attempt definitely missed.

With seven minutes to half-time, the 1-1 notification was correct thanks to Stevens’ latest cracker four days after his equaliser at Salford.

There seemed little danger when he accepted Whitfield’s short pass from Brough’s corner but his drive from 25 yards was both fierce some and deadly accurate.

Three minutes from half-time, the Bluebirds nearly took the lead. Instead goal scorer Turnbull was goal saver as he blocked Patrick Brough’s effort.

Tranmere started the second period as they had the first and only a magnificent save by Lillis kept out Kieron Morris’s left foot shot from inside the six yards box.

Josh Gordon was then just fractions away from connecting with a Whitfield pass as the entertainment value increased for a crowd of 3,383.

Lillis made a more routine stop as substitute Lewis headed goal wards.

Barrow’s first change came after 64 minutes with Stevens making way for Billy Waters.

Five minutes later Tom White’s doggedness and Brough’s tempting cross created an opportunity for Whitfield but Doohan came to Rovers’ rescue.

Then it was Lillis’s turn to preserve parity to deny Josh Hawkes. Paul Farman’s able deputy needed lengthy treatment after taking a high boot from Lewis that led to a red card for the Tranmere sub.

But the 10-men stunned the home team by snatching an 82nd minute winner as skipper Hemmings headed in Josh Dacres-Cogley’s centre.

Waters then missed an 89th- minute chance to equaliser while penalty appeals for handball were turned down in a frantic but fruitless finish.

n Striker David Moyo has joined National League side Barnet on a loan deal until the end of the season. The Zimbabwe-born forward has made 20 appearances in all competitions for the Bluebirds, including four in League Two.