The Blues gave a committed performance as they were made to fight all the way for three precious points by a Barrow side who were the form team in the league...and the referee certainly didn't do the nerves of Frickley's supporters any good by adding on over 6 minutes of stoppage time!

Frickley set their stall out early on and took the game to Barrow. Leroy Chambers should have given the Blues the lead in their first real attack on 7 minutes when Chris Hurst helped on a ball by Steve Price to Chambers who shot straight at Bishop from 12 yards when unmarked in the centre of goal. The Blues continued to enjoy the majority of the play but the next attempt at goal didn't come until 28 minutes when Chambers was fouled outside the box and Price put the resulting free-kick narrowly over the bar. Five minutes later Mark Tyrell sent over an inviting cross from the left but it was fractionally too high for Gary Duffty. Barrow then had their first real attempt at goal when Peverell took advantage of a slip by Mark Ogley but he shot wildly over from 18 yards. Duane Beckett then went close with s hot from the edge of the box before Duffty just failed to divert a shot by Rob Hanby towards goal with his head on the stroke of half time.

The start of the second half signalled some pressure by the visitors but on 55 minutes the Blues took the lead. Chris Hilton played a brilliant ball over the defence for DUFFTY to run on to a coolly lift the ball over the advancing Bishop and into the net. The Blues then lost Tyrell who was stretchered off after a hard tackle with Duffty filling in as left wing back and Craig Marsh coming on up front. On 64 minutes Duffty, who was having an inspired match, did well down the left before squaring across the box to Beckett whose first time thunderbolt shot was blocked well by Bishop. Frickley were well on top at this time but on 73 minutes disaster struck when Grant Holt headed in an equaliser for the Blueebirds from a right wing corner. The Blues immediately pushed forwards looking to regain the lead and they were given a great chance just four minutes later when Hanby was brought down inside the box and HURST stepped up to convert the spot kick. This signalled frantic glances at watched by the Frickley faithful who endured a heart-stopping moment on 80 minutes when a good run into the box by Holt saw the ball squared to Peverall but he sliced wide of an open goal from 6 yards. However, the Bluebirds equalised for a second time on 83 minutes when manager Kenny Lowe fired home from inside the box after the Blues had failed to clear their lines. Thankfully the scores remained level for only around sixty seconds before the Blues went in front for a third and final time. Hurst won the ball in midfield and fed Chambers on the edge of the box. He immediately rolled the ball into the path of the overlapping CHRIS HILTON who fired an angled drive into the roof of the net from around 12 yards. A minute into stoppage time Chambers had a chance to wrap the game up when Duffty found him in space on the edge of the box but his attempted lob wasn't string enough, allowing Bishop to stretch and catch.

In the end a thoroughly deserved and hard fought victory over a Barrow side who must take credit for pushing forwards right to the death even though they have nothing left to play for. Hopefully they will show as much effort and commitment at Colwyn Bay on Saturday. The only disappointment was finding out that Colwyn Bay had snatched a late equaliser at Worksop Town. Come on Droylsden at Leek on Thursday!!

Frickley Athletic : Mark Wilkinson, Hilton, Tyrell (Marsh 59), Jones, Ogley, Hanby, Beckett (Brown 88) Price, Chambers, Hurst, Duffty. Unused sub. Gregory

Barrow : Bishop, Gill (Housham 57), Maxfield, Hill, Hall, Warren, Anthony, Holt, Peverell, Lowe, Ellison (Doherty 67). Unused sub. Turnbull

Attendance : 225