Barrow AFC felled by late Cheltenham Town headed goal

Cheltenham Town 2 Barrow AFC 1

THE Bluebirds looked set to fly the Robins’ nest with a deserved point until their wings were clipped by Rob Dickie’s late header.

Both sets of players put in a hard shift, which made for a watchable and lively spectacle, although not a great footballing one.

Refreshingly, AFC boss Darren Edmondson refused to make excuses for the defeat.

But with his squad hit by injury and illness – the likes of attacking duo Andy Cook (knee problem) and Ashley Grimes (tonsillitis) being ruled out – it felt like a harsh outcome for a Bluebirds side who battled valiantly.

Their lack of decisiveness in the final third and their questionable defending – in allowing the Robins to net headed goals – were two major reasons why they left Gloucestershire without reward.

With only sporadic moments of genuine quality on show, the encounter was often frenetic and scrappy.

The likes of AFC winger Andy Haworth, playing against his former club, delivered a few of those notable moments when he drove forward with relish.

Barrow enjoyed positive phases, and at times, posed a threat on the break. During one such prosperous period, at the end of a fairly even first period, Aaron Downes scored an own goal to hand the visitors the lead.

After soaking up some pressure in the early stages of the second period, AFC found their feet again and looked hungry in their pursuit of a second goal.

But they suffered a big blow when lion-hearted centre-back Danny Livesey was forced to withdraw from the action on 67 minutes after his dead-leg stiffened up and became too much to bear.

The Robins then pecked away at the Bluebirds and, with the hosts generally applying more of a direct approach, Kyle Storer’s powerful header levelled matters.

And AFC crumbled with just two minutes of normal time remaining as loan centre-back Dickie bagged the hosts’ winner.

Livesey passed a late fitness, while Cook’s absence meant teenage on-loan Wigan striker Sam Cosgrove made his full AFC debut.

Central midfielder Paddy Lacey was handed his first start of the campaign – replacing Mo Fofana in the side – but he went off at the same time as Livesey after going down with cramp.

Barrow competed well during a largely lacklustre first period and they burst into life after only two minutes.

Haworth’s cross found Cosgrove, who laid the ball off to strike partner Jason Walker, but he could only fire straight at Robins keeper Dillon Phillips from a central position.

Soon after, Robins attacker Danny Wright broke free in the right channel and flashed a low shot wide of the far post.

Cheltenham posed slightly more of a threat in the early stages as half-chances went begging.

Barrow stopper Joel Dixon turned around Jack Munns’ low edge-of-the-box strike on 17 minutes, before Wright headed wide.

Cosgrove got into some decent areas and, after he went down under a challenge in the box, his half-hearted penalty appeal was rejected.

Munns and Walker traded efforts which both missed the target after the half-hour mark, while Phillips was forced to tip over a Cosgrove header.

AFC finished the half in a strong fashion and took the lead from Harvey’s excellent corner, which was swung into a danger area. Phillips failed to punch clear at the near post, and Downes appeared to divert the ball into his own net.

The action was disjointed at the start of the second period before the pendulum swung towards the hosts for a brief period.

But Barrow stood up everything Town threw at them, with the Robins creating little of note.

Barrow found their feet again as Phillips saved Haworth’s decent long-range effort.

Dixon comfortably stopped Jack Barthram’s strike, on 63 minutes, before a Haworth shot was blocked.

The Robins gradually began to press Barrow to a greater degree with the visitors relying more on counter-attacks as Barthram misfired.

Cheltenham equalised on 72 minutes when Barthram delivered from the right. Storer raced on to the ball, rising above George Williams – who, like Edmondson, questioned if a foul had been committed by the Town man – to power his header into the net.

Achieving a draw now seemed like the best result Barrow could hope for as a Town shot was deflected to Dixon in the 81st minute.

AFC refused to go into their shell though with Cosgrove unable to steer an attempt on target in meeting Haworth’s low centre.

Crosses went astray before Barrow survived a huge scare on 86 minutes when Josh Cooke raced clear, rounded Dixon and sent a very weak effort towards goal. Simon Grand was on hand to clear near the AFC line.

But Dickie netted Town’s winner on 88 minutes.

He connected with Munns’ corner and banged his header home. Cheltenham went on to extend their unbeaten run to five games.

In contrast, AFC’s third defeat of the campaign leaves them still searching for their first away point.

Cheltenham Town: Dillon Phillips, Jack Barthram, George McLennan, Kyle Storer, Aaron Downes, Daniel Parslow, Harry Pell (Rob Dickie 46), Billy Waters (Asa Hall 46), Danny Wright (Josh Cooke 76), Amari Morgan-Smith, Jack Munns.

Substitutes not used: James Rowe, Rhys Lovettt.

Barrow AFC: Joel Dixon, George Williams, Simon Grand, Danny Livesey (Niall Cowperthwaite 76), Neil Ashton, Paddy Lacey (Mo Fofana 68), Alex-Ray Harvey, David Mellor, Andy Haworth, Sam Cosgrove, Jason Walker (Elliot Newby 76).

Substitutes not used: Aaran Taylor, Alex Newby.

Referee: Chris Powell.

Attendance: 2,209.