BARROW AFC displayed plenty of steely determination against the Iron as Dan Pilkington’s clinical contribution ultimately saved the day in Essex.
Last month, a couple of late lapses ensured Barrow failed to achieve any away-day success at both Cheltenham and Halifax.
And so it was even more satisfying to witness AFC claim their first National League away point after producing their own strong finish.
Pilkington’s late strike salvaged a draw, cancelling out Simeon Akinola’s superb second-half drive.
More often than not, quality end product is what Pilkington delivers and AFC had regularly lacked that attribute up until the substitute winger netted with nine minutes of normal time remaining.
During a frenetic first half, Barrow battled manfully, but they found good chances hard to come by as their admirable industry was betrayed by insufficient imagination in the final third.
Braintree created more opportunities during those opening 45 minutes.
But Town came up against a determined back-line that also played a major part in ensuring Barrow went home with some reward.
During the 90 minutes, left-back Neil Ashton executed a couple of vital interventions and centre-back Danny Livesey played through the pain barrier to deliver a committed performance, despite being hit by back spasms during the second half.
The action was not pretty in the second period as the rivals battled for supremacy.
Indeed, this high-octane contest had the look of a typical Conference North clash, with the sides going toe-to-toe and scrapping, without being able to consistently produce their best football.
But AFC found a way to grind out a point and that bodes well for the rest of their campaign.
Barrow began well as a few crosses amounted to nothing. Braintree quickly found their feet, and on six minutes Jordan Chiedozie skipped around onrushing Bluebirds keeper Joel Dixon.
From a position towards the left, the Town man delivered the ball into the box, with Livesey on hand to intercept before the danger was cleared.
Soon after, Chez Isaac’s penalty appeal was rejected after he hit the deck inside the visitors’ area.
Sam Habergham blasted over from distance, while Paddy Lacey was unable to test home keeper Will Norris with a long-range effort.
On 20 minutes, Town’s big-unit striker Sean Marks met Akinola’s cross but volleyed over from a central position.
Seven minutes later, a wickedly whipped-in Town corner caused a moment of panic, but when the ball dropped near Barrow’s goal-line Ashton pounced to mop up.
The Bluebirds engineered a rare opportunity on the half-hour mark. Haworth transferred the ball to Cook whose angled low shot was kept out by Norris.
Chiedozie headed off-target and, before the break, Haworth’s effort was blocked, Marks’ ambitious lob drifted away from Dixon’s goal and Kenny Davis misfired.
Barrow struggled to a greater extent at the start of the second period after Lacey’s shot-from-distance went astray.
Ashton came to the fore again on 50 minutes. Marks cut the ball back to Dan Sparkes, and the full-back threw his body on the line to block the livewire’s powerful drive.
Livesey then went down injured, but after receiving treatment he got back into the action, albeit in a gingerly fashion.
Town broke the deadlock on 56 minutes. Sparkes laid the ball off to Akinola, who smashed his 16-yard shot into the net, via the underside of the bar.
AFC responded in a positive manner as Lacey’s free-kick flew just over two minutes later.
On 63 minutes, a set-piece was touched off to Haworth and his effort crashed into a Town man as the Iron continued to show their mettle.
Dixon saved Sparkes’ attempt before Pilkington replaced the ineffectual Benjamin van den Broek on 71 minutes.
Chiedozie headed wide and Akinola’s strike struck a Barrow player.
AFC striker Jason Walker then appeared fortunate to escape punishment after it looked like he caught Norris with a late off-the-ball challenge, possibly catching the keeper with a cheeky elbow.
And Walker played an important role in AFC’s 81st-minute leveller.
Substitute Niall Cowperthwaite advanced and fed the ball to Walker, who from around the edge of the box turned it around the corner and into Pilkington’s path.
Pilkington burst through and slid his low angled effort into the far right-hand corner.
Barrow looked the most likely side to go on and snatch victory.
Norris repelled another low Cook shot before he also saved Pilkington’s last-minute attempt.
In the end, Barrow deserved to halt their four-match losing away run as they at last created a small platform for their on-the-road campaign.
Will Norris, Remy Clerima, Sam Hebergham, Mark Phillips, Matt Paine, Chez Isaac, Dan Sparkes, Jordan Chiedozie, Sim Akinola, Kenny Davis, Sean Marks.
Mitch Brundle, Tom Dallinson, Miles Taylor, Michael Cheek, Chris Haigh.
Joel Dixon, George Williams, Simon Grand, Danny Livesey, Neil Ashton, Benjamin van den Broek, Paddy Lacey, David Mellor, Andy Haworth, Jason Walker, Andy Cook.
Aaran Taylor, Niall Cowperthwaite, Dan Pilkington, Elliot Newby, Sam Cosgrove.
Alan Young.
710.
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