Worcester City 0-2 Barrow
Vanarama Conference North
Jonny Bonell reports from Aggborough
Attendance: 688
FOR THE second time in five days Worcester City tasted defeat against title hopefuls who ended the game at the Conference North summit.
After a resounding 4-0 defeat against then leaders AFC Fylde on Tuesday, Barrow were next to take three points from Aggborough with a 2-0 success today (Saturday).
Goals from Anthony Wilson and substitute Andy Cook inflicted the damage on Carl Heeley’s men, who could have taken the lead in the first half but Sean Geddes saw his penalty kept out by Aaran Taylor.
City struggled to create clear cut openings throughout against the third meanest defence in the league and remain in 11th place.
The visitors knew three points could have propelled them back to the head of the sixth tier of English football but there was a lack of table-topping quality in the early exchanges as both Wilson and Andy Howart ballooned efforts out of the stadium.
Jason Walker did flash a header marginally past the post for Barrow but it was Worcester who were given a glorious opportunity to break the deadlock after 24 minutes when Andy Burns was adjudged to have brought down Geddes when he was one-on-one with Taylor.
And it turned out to be a double boost for The Bluebirds as referee Robert Massey-Ellis brandished just a yellow card for Burns before Barrow stopper Taylor guessed correctly, palmed away Geddes’ penalty and watched on as Daniel Nti headed over the rebound.
The pressure was all from the hosts after that miss but ten minutes before the break it was Barrow who grabbed a goal on the counter as Wilson superbly brought down a Danny Livesy ball into the box and fired low past Ryan Boot.
Taylor kept his side ahead once more a minute after the restart when he tipped over Nti’s close range header while at the other end Jason Walker almost added a spectacular second when he brought down Sam Sheridan’s flick on the chest, turned and struck a volley which dipped just over the top.
There was something for the Worcester faithful to cheer with 15 minutes to go when Tyler Weir was brought on for his first appearance since January 11 before Geddes curled a 20-yard free-kick straight into the grateful arms of Taylor.
But the game was put to bed in the second minute of added time when Barrow’s leading goalscorer Cook charged in on goal, he was initially denied by Boot’s legs but picked up the rebound and tapped into an empty net.