Devaney free kick ends Barrow's unbeaten away run

Martin Devaney’s first goal in a blue and white shirt was enough to earn Worcester city all three points at Aggborough, ending Barrow’s long-standing unbeaten away run.

Devaney struck in the 72nd minute, hammering home a free kick that condemned Barrow to their first away defeat in 13 games since November.

Shabir Khan returned to the starting line-up after a lengthy absence, but limped off after 75 minutes with suspected cramp.

After a dull opening 10 minutes, Ethan Moore’s flick pass found Aaron Williams who curled his shot just wide of Tony McMillan’s goal.

McMillan was tested four minutes later as Daniel Nti’s clipped pass was neatly chested by Ethan Moore before he slotted Devaney through on goal, only for the advancing Barrow stopper to smother the ball before contact for a shot could be made, before Devaney’s swivelling snapshot minutes later flashed wide of the post.

Barrow’s first chance of the game nearly ended with a spectacular goal, as former Walsall and Telford midfielder Richard Davies met Shabir Khan’s defensive header with a first time volley that dipped just over the bar.

But Davies was booked on the half-hour mark after a scything tackle on City’s Ebby Nelson-Addy with the midfielder receiving treatment for several minutes before being given the all-clear to continue.

Barrow worked themselves back into the game and came close after a long ball from Duran Reynolds found Gareth Arnison running through on goal, with the frontman’s shot being beaten onto the post via a great save from a full-stretch Leigh Bedwell.

And within the space of a minute City were back on the attack as Ethan Moore’s tame shot from inside the area was palmed out by McMillan straight back to the City striker, who prodded to Nti with his shot being hacked off the line before Barrow desperately scrambled clear.

Nti’s audacious effort from the edge of the area brought out a flying save from McMillan just two minutes before the break.

Barrow came close after the restart after a mix up between Hutchinson and Bedwell presented Tom Corner with an opportunity, but the frontman sent his lob over the stranded Bedwell but wide of the target.

Paddy Lacey lashed a shot wide from outside the area after 65 minutes in a much quieter second half, before Daniel Nti’s free kick from distance stung the palms of McMillan five minutes later.

City eventually broke the deadlock with 72 minutes on the clock after Martin Devaney’s well-struck free kick from an acute angle on the left evaded the mass of players congregated in the area and nestled into the far corner.

It was no more than City’s patient build-up play deserved and the hosts continued to dominate the closing stages as Daneil Nti lashed over the bar from outside the area with 10 minutes remaining.

Barrow had few second half chances, but Bedwell was called upon to save Lacey’s bobbling effort from outside the area.

Substitute Alex Ray-Harvey fired over with two minutes of normal time remaining and skied a shot from the edge of the area deep into injury time.

After the game Carl Heeley said, “We’ve had two really close games against Barrow in a relatively short space of time. I thought we played some lovely stuff, certainly in the middle third. There weren’t many chances in the game and when you can keep clean sheets like we do then you’ve always got an opportunity".

City now face a long trip north to face Workington on Saturday (3pm kick-off) knowing that a win will be enough to mathematically guarantee their status as a Skrill North side next year.

Attendance 314

Report by Alexander Harris