Last updated at 20:41, Saturday, 20 March 2010

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• Click here for official travel & accommodation packages for Barrow AFC's match at Wembley

• Click here to read the match report from Barrow's victory against Salisbury

IT might not have been the prettiest three points gained, but it was arguably the biggest of the season.

Not only because it was the Bluebirds’ first league win at Holker Street in five months, or because it lifted AFC back out of the dreaded Blue Square Premier relegation zone, but because it was against Wrexham – one of non-league football’s biggest names and a club whose proud history includes an 87-year consecutive membership in the Football League.

This was, quite simply, a massive result. A shame then that only just over 1,000 ventured through the turnstiles to watch it.

Those who did, witnessed the Bluebirds come from behind in a thrilling second half.

The goal that eventually won it arrived 14 minutes from time courtesy of the right boot of Nick Chadwick.

Latching onto a clever pass from Paul Rutherford, the former Premier League striker took one touch to get the ball out of his feet before unleashing a ferocious 20-yard shot which rocketed past Sam Russell before the Wrexham keeper had time to react.

Not bad for a player who had been on the pitch for just nine minutes having been introduced as part of a double substitution which saw the ex-Everton man and debutant teenager Kayleden Brown replace Jason Walker and Gregg Blundell up front.

Obviously frustrated at being left out, Chadwick gestured towards the bench as he celebrated his goal with team-mates. This will have brought even bigger smiles to the faces of joint-managers Dave Bayliss and Darren Sheridan, both of whom love to see their players pumped-up and showing passion in wanting to wear the Barrow shirt.

It was Chadwick’s fourth goal since joining the club from Chester City in January and his first at Holker Street.

Following an even first half, in which Wrexham came closest to scoring, the visitors took the lead on 62 minutes when Andy Mangan laid the ball off to midfielder Mark Jones, who – like Chadwick – rifled it home from 20 yards. Barrow were level just four minutes later – albeit in rather fortuitous circumstances. A long-range Andy Bond shot appeared to hit a divot on its way goalwards and bounced up and hit keeper Russell on the chest as he knelt down to collect it.

The rebound fell straight at the feet of Wrexham skipper Ashley Westwood who, running towards his own goal and under pressure from Walker, toed the ball over the line from close range. A minute later Chadwick and fellow substitute Brown were thrown into the fray.

Mangan went close with a curling 25-yard effort that went just the wrong side of the upright before Chadwick put the Bluebirds ahead.

The Red Dragons went in search of equaliser but failed to trouble Deasy any further. The night ended sourly for manager Dean Saunders and his team when centre-half Mansour Assoumani was shown a straight red card in injury time for a bad tackle on ex-Wrexham man Paul Edwards, who was left with a gash down his leg. The Bluebirds named the same side that started in the 1-0 FA Trophy semi-final first leg victory at Salisbury at the weekend.

Barrow survived an early scare when, in the fourth minute, Wrexham hit the woodwork.

A deep cross from Trinidad and Tobago international Silvio Spann found Lamine Sakho at the back post.

His downward header fell to Mark Jones, whose sweetly-struck 18-yard shot deflected off Barrow skipper Paul Jones and, with keeper Tim Deasy wrong-footed, crashed against the post. Two minutes later Simon Wiles whipped in a pin-point cross from the right and spring-heeled Walker, who out-jumped two much taller opponents, put a decent 16-yard header over the bar.

AFC’s first shot on target came on eight minutes when Blundell chased a ball towards the corner flag before laying it back to Wiles, whose shot was saved by Russell.

His opposite number Deasy was also in action, flinging himself to the right to push away a curling 25-yard effort from Mark Jones.

On 13 minutes, Barrow were guilty of wasting a great three-on-two break. They also blew a two-on-one chance later in the half.

Deasy came to rescue for a second time on 20 minutes when again throwing himself to his right and making a superb low diving save to beat away a 20-yard Sakho free-kick. Barrow lost skipper Paul Jones on 34 minutes to a thigh problem.

He was replaced by Mike Pearson.

The half came to an end with man-of-the-match Robin Hulbert biting into yet more tackles. Alongside Hulbert, working hard in central midfield, was Andy Bond, who was celebrating his 24th birthday.

Let’s hope the celebrations continue this Saturday when Barrow aim to book their place in the FA Trophy final at Wembley.

First published at 13:13, Wednesday, 17 March 2010
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk