Accrington Stanley 0 Barrow FC 1

TOP-OF-THE-TABLE Barrow snatched a UniBond Premier win they didn't really deserve against a Stanley side who performed heroically and ended the game with just 10 men at the Crown Ground last night.

Both sides started this game brightly with Stanley the first to show when Stuart Cliff found Darren Quick only for him to head wide of goal.

Dave Leaver fired in a corner that Jez Baldwin back-headed across the goalmouth the ball being headed away by a Barrow defender for another corner. As Stanley got forward at every opportunity Barrow's Dave Higgins shot from 30 yards which was comfortably saved by Rob Mulloy.

After another David Leaver corner play at the other end saw Rob Mulloy save from Neil Morton, Jimmy Brown passed a diagonal ball to Morton but Wayne Dowell saw the danger and cleared off Morton's toes. Paul Robertson's corner for Barrow was headed over by Paul Jones as the play swung from end to end.

Steve Haw had a shot cleared off the line with Stanley giving at least as good as they got. A Chris Molloy cross was dropped by Steve Farrelly and hastily cleared upfield. Brian Welch shot over from 18 yards, Farrelly then made a good save from Stuart Cliff before Rob Mulloy made a good catch from another dangerous Robertson corner. Almost on half time Russell Procter was thrust up front to replace the injured Jim McCluskie who had to be stretchered off to hospital.

The first 15 minutes of the second half were rather scrappy with Procter just unable to connect to a Chris Molloy cross. Stuart Cliff had a shot saved by Farrelly then Dave Higgins headed over the Stanley bar as both teams again got forward. Jez Baldwin was dismissed in the 62nd minute for a second bookable offence.

Russell Procter was immediately put back in defence but Stanley even with 10 men still got forward and showed a lot of character in keeping the game flowing and putting Barrow under pressure.

Darren Davies dribbled through the Barrow defence only for his shot to go inches wide, then Rob Mulloy came out and saved at the feet of Neil Morton. A Brian Welch cross ws volleyed just over from 20 yards by Chris Molloy. Then Steve Dowell again defended well by clearing the ball as Barrow came forward again.

Eddie Johnston, the Barrow defender, made a last-ditch tackle to save his team as the game drew nearer to a close. On 88 minutes substitute Mark Grugel fired the ball home for Barrow as Stanley hesitated claiming offside.

Accrington Stanley who had put in a superb performance, even when they were down to 10 men, did not deserve to lost this game.

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