BARROW AFC 0, CARLISLE UNITED 1

BARROW suffered a derby-day double for the first time since 1961 as noisy neighbours Carlisle United got bragging rights once again.

The Bluebirds were stuffed 5-1 in the reverse fixture at the end of January.

Boss Pete Wild was desperate for his side to get their own back and put a spanner in the works of Paul Simpson’s side’s promotion hopes.

But defender Ben Barclay grabbed the only goal of the game in the 15th minute to give the north Cumbrians something to hold onto.

Barrow huffed and puffed as they diligently searched for an equaliser, and they almost got one right at the very end as Josh Kay hit the post but it ultimately wasn’t to be as Barrow’s hopes of sneaking into the play-offs were also ended.

After being criticised by fans for making five changes for the trip to Grimsby in mid-week, Wild essentially reverted back to the side which picked up a goalless draw at Swindon Town last Saturday.

Rory Feely, who went off injured early on at the County Ground, is still sidelined with George Ray his replacement.

Both sides flew out of the blocks for the hotly-anticipated derby.

Harrison Neal had the first real chance as he forced Tom Holy into a good stop from his header after Sam McClellan flicked Ben Whitfield’s cross on.

Barclay opened the scoring in the 16th minute as he bundled over at the back post after star striker Kristian Dennis flicked on Owen Moxon’s corner.

After being roared on by their home fans, the Bluebirds instantly looked for a leveller.

Both top scorer Josh Gordon and Whitfield saw efforts easily caught by Holy in the visitor’s net.

Barrow were briefly down to ten when captain Niall Canavan needed treatment, but he was thankfully quickly back on the pitch.

There was a minute’s applause from both sets of fans in the 27th minute for Nick Anderton, a former favourite at both clubs, who sadly announced his retirement on Friday.

John-Kymani Gordon tried his luck from outside of the box, but Paul Farman safely watched it go wide of his goal.

Barrow’s Gordon was booked for blocking a Holy goal kick, before Ray did well to stop his namesake getting a shot off.

Wild’s charges started the brighter of the two sides after the restart as they chased an equaliser.

The referee waved away huge shouts for a penalty from the Holker Street end after Elliot Newby went down in the box.

Robbie Gotts and Tom White both saw efforts blocked just after the hour as the hosts continued to push hard to get back into the contest.

Gordon squandered a great effort to level from the rebound as Holy kept the striker out.

Down the other end, Callum Guy unlocked the door to find Dennis, but his tame effort was easily kept out by former Carlisle stopper Farman.

The hosts threw the kitchen sink at their neighbours with ten minutes to go.

Newby tested Holy with a strike from the edge of the area after driving through midfield before Holy did well to dive at Gotts’ feet to deny him an almost certain goal.

Kay hit the post with virtually the last kick of the game.