Barrow’s recent woes continued into New Year when they lost 2-1 at home to Bradford City.
It was City’s first win in seven games and keeps Barrow looking anxiously over their shoulder in the fight to avoid the relegation zone.
First half the Bluebirds weren’t good enough, trailing 1-0 at the break. When City added a second four minutes into the second-half it looked grim but it sparked a fight-back and a much-more palatable display from the hosts.
In truth, after a Josh Gordon header reduced the arrears, a terrific onslaught threatened to sweep away the Bantams and they did ever so well to retain their lead and go back to West Yorkshire with three points.
The visitors had scored from the first threatening move of the game on eight minutes. Alex Gilliead was allowed to move through and a static home defence allowed him to find Lee Angol on the edge of the box with an accurate pass.
Angol took one touch and then slid the ball into the bottom corner for the opening goal.
The first threat from the Bluebirds ended with what home fans have become used to. A ball flashed invitingly across the opponent’s goal and nobody there to provide the close-range finish, This time it was Remeao Hutton who provided the opportunity.
Festus Arthur then provided a great ball for Tom Beadling to make a threatening run and his low cross was met by Josh Kay but the shot was blocked by a defender.
Barrow did enjoy a good spell and tested Bradford keeper Sam Hornsby from 25 yards while top scorer Ollie Banks dragged a shot wide from long range.
Generally City dealt comfortably with the best that Barrow could offer and the visitors had a dream start to the second-half.
Barrow’s Matt Platt was caught trying to shepherd a ball out for a goal kick and Gilliead did well to chase it down and steer the ball back for former Barrow forward Andy Cook to step round Paul Farman and net the second.
It was looking ominous but Barrow found some rhythm with Tom Beadling seeing a powerful shot deflected wide.
However, from the resultant short corner, Kay put in a cross which found Gordon who headed home from close range.
It was all Barrow now and they were almost level on 59 minutes. Patrick Brough got down the left and a fiercely driven cross was just beyond Gordon’s lunge.
The Bluebirds did have the ball in the net on 69 minutes when Hornby spilled a cross and over the line behind him but the referee had spotted a foul by Gordon on the keeper.
Banks came close to a leveller but he thumped his shot just too high from inside the box.
Substitute Dimitri Sea almost salvaged a point at the death but from the edge of the area his shot was held by Hornby.
