BARROW AFC 1

SWINDON TOWN 1

 

RORY Feely was seconds away from being Barrow’s unlikely goalkeeping hero, but Danny Butterworth broke Barrow hearts with a late, late equaliser.

 

Butterworth’s speculative long-range attempt in the eighth minute of stoppage time squirmed out of the stand-in goalkeeper’s grasp to cancel out Ged Garner’s first half opener.

 

Feely, a former Gaelic footballer, took over the gloves after Paul Farman was sent-off for handball just before the break.

 

And with manager Stephen Clemence opting not to put reserve keeper Wyll Stanway on the bench, Feely took over.

 

He received superb protection from his team-mates, and also made a couple of saves himself.

 

And when Swindon striker Harry Smith was sent-off for the second successive season at Holker Street, Barrow’s victory hopes improved.

 

But with a crowd of 3,763 at fever pitch, the minutes ticked down until the 98th minute when Butterworth got Swindon out of jail.

 

Just 23 seconds had elapsed when Barrow were forced to defend a free-kick for handball awarded by referee, Zac Kennard-Kettle, the 23-year-old, officiating his first game in the third tier, 

 

Swindon’s last away win came at Barrow last April, one of the key results in the final month of the season that scuppered AFC’s play-off hopes.

 

But the Wiltshire side fashioned several early chances through 6’5” striker Smith, whose free-kick was saved by Farman, and skipper Ollie Clarke.

 

Barrow’s response was a shot on the run by Elliot Newby, which had Jack Bycroft at full stretch.

 

A well-worked corner routine then saw Kian Spence lash a drive from the edge of the box fractionally over the crossbar.

 

Town were forced into a 26th minute change when injured skipper Clarke was replaced by Tunmise Sobowale.

 

However, the visitors continued to press, winning several corners and forcing Niall Canavan and Neo Eccleston into key defensive headers.

 

And it was also against the run of play when Barrow went ahead nine minutes before the interval. 

 

Garner’s angled chip may have been meant as a cross, but it floated over Bycroft into the net for his third goal of the campaign.

 

And with other results at that point in their favour Barrow occupied top spot in the division.

 

Then came the game’s talking point. Farman came flying out of his area to make a clearance but made poor contact.

 

With Farman stranded nearly 40 yards outside his box Gavin Kilkenny returned the clearance with interest towards the open goal.

 

Farman stuck out a hand to deflect it from danger and the red card eventually followed.

 

In the re-shuffle that followed Katia Kouyate was replaced by Feely who tipped away Jeff King’s corner in the second half, and clung onto substitute Paul Glatzel’s header.

 

Smith, red carded when on duty for Sutton last season, was sent-off again after clashing with Theo Vassell.

 

Barrow’s chances to double their lead were severely limited, but they were happy to defend stoutly. 

 

And that recipe looked set to reap its rewards until Butterworth’s goal sent fans home with mixed emotions.

Barrow: Farman, Eccleston, Campbell, Canavan ©️, Spence, Garner (Dallas 79’), Newby (Worrall 79’), Gotts (Foley 84’), Kouyate (Feely 44’), Jackson, Vassell. Subs not used: Tiensia, Telford.