A sore draw as Barrow denied at last gasp

A STOPPAGE-TIME equaliser by substitute Kwesi Appiah denied Barrow victory after they drew 1-1 at Colchester United.

Pete Wild’s side looked like they were on course to claim three points at the JobServe Community Stadium, after Ben Whitfield’s opener.

But Appiah slotted in at the far post in the sixth minute of stoppage time after Connor Hall’s effort had been cleared off the line, to deny the Bluebirds.

Barrow were made to work hard by the hosts in what was at times a physical encounter.

However, they defended well and produced a professional performance that took them close to claiming an impressive away victory and bouncing back after back-to-back league defeats.

Barrow manager Wild handed debuts to Rory Feely and Ged Garner, while Sam McClelland returned after injury.

And the Bluebirds started well, almost scoring after barely a minute.

Niall Canavan’s fine header from Patrick Brough’s cross was well turned away by the diving Colchester goalkeeper Kieran O’Hara.

The hosts began to threaten after that and Cole Skuse’s volleyed over from the edge of the area, while Barrow goalkeeper Paul Farman got down well to Noah Chilvers’ low effort, after Arthur Read had picked out his team-mate in the area.

Waters’ spectacular volley flew over the bar and the visitors produced some good attacking play in and around the Colchester area, without being able to make the breakthrough.

Barrow looked dangerous in the first half and forced a number of corners, putting the home defence under severe pressure on several occasions.

But Colchester came close to taking a 34th-minute lead when Tom Hopper’s header from Connor Wood’s cross bounced back off the inside of a post, with Farman beaten.

It was a let off for Barrow but, in truth, a Colchester goal before the break would have been an injustice for the visitors, who more than deserved to be on level terms at half-time.

Barrow were largely on the back foot in the opening minutes of the second half, with the hosts in the ascendency, after the interval.

But Farman was not seriously tested in that time and the Bluebirds continued to look menacing, with debutant Garner’s low 25-yard strike well held by O’Hara, nine minutes after the break.

And Barrow took the lead in the 57th minute through Whitfield, who converted Feely’s cross at the far post from close range.

Colchester were given a golden opportunity to equalise ten minutes later when Farman was adjudged to have fouled substitute John Akinde in the area.

But Farman made a fine stop to deny Akinde from the spot and protect his side’s slender lead.

Colchester came close to equalising again with 12 minutes to go when Hopper fires a low shot with only Farman to beat, after Junior Tchamadeu’s through ball had dissected the Barrow defence.

Sam McClelland made a fine block to divert Akinde’s close-range away for a corner in the closing stages after Farman had fumbled the ball.

But Appiah netted late on to earn Colchester a draw and leave Barrow deflated.