Late, late drama at the Dunes Hotel Stadium as the Valiants come from behind to clinch victory

The Valiants came into this game in fine form and looking to make it back-to-back wins. We came close to opening the scoring in the first ten minutes through Brad Walker who was denied his first goal in Vale colours by the woodwork. The ball came to him on the edge of the area and he didn’t hesitate to strike an effort towards goal which cannoned off the far post.

The Bluebirds had not won at home in the league since mid-December but almost went ahead from a corner. Matt Platt won the aerial battle and directed a header on target but Aidan Stone claimed the ball comfortably.

Barrow manager Phil Brown was in charge of his first home game and there was certainly a positivity about their play. On the quarter-hour mark Robbie Gotts fired an effort across goal on the edge of the area which was not too far away.

But ten minutes later a long ball was sent forward to Barrow forward Josh Kay who brought the ball down well, beating his man and he calmly put the ball into the corner to give the home side the lead.

The second half was much improved from a Valiant point of view. On 59 minutes Vale broke following a Barrow attack. David Amoo played in Harry Charsley down the left who found Jamie Proctor unmarked at the back post who hammered a volley into the back of the net to draw us level.

But it could have been even better just a minute later as Proctor produced a lovely chipped through ball to James Wilson who was one on one with Paul Farman but his effort from inside the area went just wide of the far post. On 66 minutes the home side responded with a 25-yard strike from goal scorer Kay but his effort flew over Stone’s bar.

Four minutes later we had a chance to take the lead from a corner but Aaron Martin’s header looped over the crossbar.

But a minute from time Aaron Martin had another chance following another set-piece. Carnage in the penalty area with Proctor and Wilson both getting touches. It found its way to the back post where Martin poked it home to win the match for the Valiants.

Barrow | Farman, Platt, Kay (66’ Grayson), Beadling, Glennon (73’ James), Hutton, Amadi-Holloway, Canavan, Banks, Rooney (73’ Gordon)

Subs not used | Lillis, Jason Taylor, Jones

Port Vale | Stone, Walker, Hall, Smith, Worrall (86’ Edmondson), Wilson (92’ Jake Taylor), Benning, Proctor, Martin, Amoo (60’ Harratt), Charsley

Subs not used | Holy, Robinson, Hurst