A DANIEL Nti strike earned Worcester City a fine 1-0 win at high-flying Barrow in the Skrill Conference North on Saturday (March 8).
The striker pounced to fire home his 13th goal of the season with 56 minutes on the clock and end Barrow’s 14-game unbeaten record, lifting the Blue and Whites up to 13th in the table in the process.
In a tight game of few chances the City rearguard was resolute and deservedly won the three points to stop the Cumbrian’s charge to the play-offs and secure a seventh win in ten games for Carl Heeley’s men.
With both teams going into the game full of confidence it was always going to be a close encounter, and so it proved in the first 45 minutes with Ebby Nelson-Addy shooting wide for the visitors before Sam Sheridan’s deflected free-kick was saved by Ryan Boot.
Eleven minutes after the restart and it was Worcester who got their noses in front when Aaron Williams long throw was met by Aaron Brown who, in turn, found Nti to poke through the legs of the defender and past the stranded Tony McMillan.
The Bluebirds pressed Boot’s goal looking for the illusive strike but a superbly marshalled back four withstood anything being thrown at them, including the three changes Darren Edmondson made to try and force the equaliser.
The game should have been put to bed with seconds remaining when the visitors broke through debutant Martin Devaney. He sent substitute Kristian Ramsey-Dickson in the clear but, with the goal beckoning, the striker blazed well over the bar.
Nevertheless, Worcester held on to their slender advantage and secured another three points as Heeley and his players continue to defy the odds.
