Barrow 1 – 1 AFC Fylde
Quigley 66′ – Croasdale 85′
Kay sent off for Barrow.
AFC Fylde battled to a point away at league leaders Barrow, as Ryan Croasdale levelled late on against the ten-man Bluebirds.
The Coasters made two changes, with Nick Haughton in for Mark Yeates, and Kyle Jameson coming in for Andy Taylor at left-back.
Early signs looked good for Fylde, with Haughton looking dangerous down the left, but his adventure into the box was cut out by Platt.
Barrow’s first chance came as Brad Barry’s searching cross was turned behind by Neill Byrne, somewhat close to Hornby’s post.
From the corner, Barrow had won themselves a penalty, after a flurry of blue and yellow shirts collapsed to the floor – with the referee pointing to the spot, with Dan Bradley the accused.
John Rooney stepped up looking to add his 12th league goal of the season, but Sam Hornby had other ideas.
He dived quickly across to his right and made a fantastic stop, with captain Neill Byrne removing the danger.
With a new lease of life after the let off, The Coasters had the chance to take the lead, through a less than popular figure with Barrow fans.
Danny Rowe was released on the right, looked up and strode into the box, chopping Brough inside and out, but blazed it over the bar at the last moment.
Barrow must have thought they’d opened the scoring, when John Rooney fired through a crowded penalty box looking to make amends.
Hornby made an awkward save and it almost fell to Quigley, but Jameson was able to punt it clear, and the Coasters could breathe again.
Nick Haughton was Fylde’s most impressive outlet, and he forced a yellow card for his opposite number Brad Barry, who chopped him down just inside the Barrow half.
A 50/50 between Kay and Burke saw it turn a little bit feisty, as the two teams came to a confrontation, with Bradley and Kay both receiving a yellow.
Two of Fylde’s best chances came shortly after this, as Jameson’s run forward resulted in a great low cross to pick out Kosylo – but Dixon denied him with a great front post stop.
The resulting corner saw another massive opportunity, as Dixon couldn’t make a firm punch on the cross, and Bradley was there waiting on the edge of the box.
Bradley struck it first time, and although it looked to be going over, dropped rapidly, and bounced agonisingly off of the crossbar.
Barrow had a string of half chances, with Angus and Barry combining well on the right, but couldn’t find a way through.
The Coasters were kicking themselves at half-time not to be ahead, as Luke Burke was played cleverly through by Kosylo, and had an array of yellow shirts to aim for.
Burke pulled it back to Bradley, who had checked his run, but blazed it over the bar from eighteen yards, with a poor effort.
Bradley soon made amends at the other end though, with a fantastic tackle on Josh Kay in the penalty area, where he only had Hornby to beat.
Despite plenty of talking points, it was goalless at the break, with both sides going in kicking themselves about missed opportunities.
HALF TIME: Barrow 0 – 0 AFC Fylde
Nick Haughton picked up where he left off in the first half, and very nearly opened the scoring, jigging in, before unleashing a right footed effort from distance.
It looked to everyone as if Haughton’s effort would nestle inside Joel Dixon’s post, but instead it whistled narrowly by.
Just moments later, John Rooney went close again, thundering a free-kick from distance that went narrowly over the bar.
At the other end, Haughton’s corner picked out a towering Neill Byrne, but his header whistled inches wide of the post.
Momentum had swung back Barrow’s way, and after Quigley’s cross from a narrow angle, Luke Burke had to make a clearance from inside the 6 yard box.
A brilliant counterattack saw Fylde open Barrow up once more, this time Haughton sliding Croasdale in – but his low effort was stopped by Dixon with relative ease.
The end to end nature continued, as after weathering another attack, the Coasters should have taken the lead through Danny Rowe.
A massive moment in the game came as a quick counter saw Josh Kay and Matty Kosylo tangle off of the ball.
The assistant referee flagged for a foul, and after much deliberation, and plenty of consulting between the officials, Kay was shown a second yellow card.
Rowe’s resulting free-kick was a disappointing one, and moments later, the ten men of Barrow had taken the lead.
It was a straightforward enough goal for the Barrow number nine Scott Quigley, who shrugged off a challenge from Neill Byrne, and slotted it low past Sam Hornby.
Before long, the Coasters responded, with Dan Bradley coming off for Kurt Willoughby, who joined Danny Rowe up front.
Haughton’s lofted through ball for Danny Rowe looked as if it would be the moment to see the Coasters draw level, but Dixon rushed off of his goal line to deny him.
The Coasters danger man Nick Haughton continued to threaten, and after a drop ball saw the game restarted, he went close again with an effort that whistled past the post.
Barrow weren’t shutting up shop, however, and went close to a spectacular second, when Ollie Dyson’s fantastic overhead kick almost found its way into the net.
When it looked increasingly like it wouldn’t go Fylde’s way – things finally paid off, and got themselves level.
Some patient build-up play saw Luke Burke offered the chance to wrap a teasing cross into the box, and pick out Ryan Croasdale.
Croasdale took a touch, steadied himself, and calmly prodded it beyond the onrushing Dixon, levelling the game with five minutes to go.
Seven minutes of added time were shown, befitting of the dramatic clash, and Barrow came into injury time the strongest, with a flurry of corners.
A huge chance came the Coasters way as a brilliant Mark Yeates cross caused havoc, and eventually fell the way of Danny Rowe – but his effort couldn’t be turned home in a manic penalty box.
The final chance of the game fell the way of Barrow’s Ollie Dyson, but he dragged his effort wide of the post, and the referee called time on a pulsating clash.
Teams
Barrow: Dixon, Hird, Platt, Brough; Barry, Rooney (Taylor 86’), White, Kay; Hardcastle (Brown 65’), Quigley, Angus (Dyson 74’).
Subs: Hindle, Harrison.
AFC Fylde: Hornby, Jameson (Taylor 86’), Whitmore, Byrne, Burke, Philliskirk, Croasdale, Bradley (Willoughby 70’), Haughton (Yeates 81’), Kosylo, Rowe.
Subs unused: Lavercombe, Craigen.
