A MARTIN Devaney free-kick all but ensured Worcester City’s Skrill Conference North status for another season as they overcame a stubborn Barrow side 1-0 on Tuesday (April 8).
The winger struck after 72 minutes to secure all three points for Carl Heeley’s side and leave them 14 points clear of relegation with a maximum of 15 points up for grabs.
Defeat for Barrow means they have only lost twice in their last 20 games, with both of those coming against Worcester.
The Bluebirds had the ball in the back of the net after six minutes at Aggborough when Ted Cribley played in Gareth Arnison who chipped his effort past Leigh Bedwell, but the linesman’s flag was up early on the far side.
After a lively start to proceedings the hosts started to boss the game and Tony McMillan was a mere spectator as Aaron Williams sent a right-footed curler just wide before the Barrow keeper dashed quickly off his line to deny Devaney following an Ethan Moore flick-on.
The deadlock was nearly broken in spectacular fashion after 24 minutes when Andy Burns’ cross was headed away by the returning Shabir Khan, only as far as Richard Davies who struck a sweet volley whistling just over the crossbar.
Arnison had the perfect opportunity to put his side ahead 14 minutes later when Duran Reynolds long clearance picked out the striker, he outmuscled Khan but his weak strike was tipped onto the post by Bedwell.
That save was the catalyst for an entertaining final five minutes to the half which saw Carl Heeley’s men do everything but put the ball in the back of the net as first Moore and then Daniel Nti were somehow denied in a mad scramble in the visitors box before City’s top scorer hit a curling half-volley which was diverted round the post by McMillan.
Within less than a minute on the clock in the second half Barrow somehow squandered another golden opportunity when a lack of communication between Graham Hutchison and Bedwell allowed Tom Corner to nip in, but his lob bounced agonisingly wide.
The deadlock was broken with 18 minutes remaining and it was a first goal in Worcester colours for Devaney who flashed his free-kick from the left all the way through a crowd of bodies and into the far corner.
Heeley’s men continued to defend resolutely and Bedwell shut out Paddy Lacey’s half volley before substitute Sam Sheridan’s free-kick fizzed through a crowded City box and wide of the post.
Man-of-the-moment Devaney almost doubled his and Worcester’s tally with minutes remaining when his curling effort was well held by McMillan, but it didn’t matter as the hosts secured a precious three points.
Heeley said: “It was a tight game but I thought we played some lovely stuff, certainly in the middle third, we knocked it around in little triangles and, apart from one save in the first half, Barrow didn’t really threaten us.
“Chances were a bit few and far between, we had the best chance of the first half were we had three opportunities all in the same attack, but it’s built on another clean sheet and I’m delighted with that.”
Jonny Bonell reporting from Aggborough
Attendance 314