In a clash between top and bottom of League Two, it was relegation threatened Barrow who came out on top at a blustery Holker Street on Saturday afternoon, ending Bromley’s twenty-one game unbeaten run with a hard fought 2-1 win.
Bromley went into the game 50 points ahead of their hosts, but it was hard to tell which side was the league leaders on this particular afternoon. Andy Woodman set up with a 4-4-2 formation, Marcus Dinanga joining Nicke Kabamba up front for a rare start.
The Ravens made a positive beginning with an early corner, but momentum shifted somewhat after an injury to Omar Sowunmi picked up when defending a corner and Barrow started to see a lot more of the ball.
The Ravens struggled to keep the ball on the pitch with the wind behind them, although they did nearly take the lead when a Marcus Ifill cross from the right was gathered by Wyll Stanway on the line just under his crossbar.
After another good spell from Barrow, Bromley struck ten minutes from the break when a foul by Rakeem Harper on Corey Whitely saw Ashley Charles drive home an unstoppable free kick from 25 yards out into the top right-hand corner of the net to put the leaders in front.
In a bizarre incident just before half time, Bluebirds’ forward Danny Rose was booked for kicking a second ball on the pitch in an attempt to delay a Bromley free kick, but in fact prevented a Barrow counter attack and there were two further incidents in the second half of a second ball finding its way on to the field of play.
The second half saw Barrow start with the wind at their backs, but they adapted better to the conditions and kept the ball down.
Bromley created the first chance when Hondermarck set up Kabamba, but his shot was well saved by Stanway at his near post. Sowunmi then had a header saved from a Mitchel Pinnock free kick, before The Bluebirds started to threaten going forward.
Barrow equalised on 56 minutes when Connor Mahoney showed some great footwork in the area before unleashing a cross shot that was headed home by Josh Gordon.
Ben Jackson curled a free kick just wide after a foul from Whitely on Jack Earing saw him yellow carded. Just after the hour Andy Woodman made changes, giving George Evans his League Two debut up front.
Two minutes later though, the home side took the lead when a corner from the left was headed back towards goal by Niall Canavan and Rose was on hand to stab the ball home in a crowded area for 2-1.
Gordon then squandered a great chance to extend the home side’s lead when he broke clear of a heavy-footed Bromley defence, but he was caught in two minds when one on one with Grant Smith and Sowunmi got back to clear the danger.
Earing was next to have a shot saved by Smith as The Ravens defence looked all at sea under constant Barrow pressure. A brief respite saw Whitely blaze a good chance wide, but the home side finished on top with Harper having a shot saved and Gordon heading another great opportunity over.
Over the piece The Bluebirds were well worth their win against an out of salts Bromley, feeling the effects of a long hard season.
Despite the loss Bromley remain top though, as other results went their way, seven points clear of Cambridge Utd in fourth, as Andy Woodman’s side prepare for a tough trip to play off chasing Barnet on Good Friday.
Barrow: Stanway, Jackson, MacDonald, Canavan, Shipley, Willians, Harper, Mahoney, Gordon, Earing, Rose. Subs: Barrett, Anderson, McCann, Smith, Fletcher, Malcolm.
Bromley: Smith, Ifill, Odutayo, Sowunmi, Medley, Charles, Hondermarck, Whitely, Pinnock, Dinanga, Kabamba. Subs: Evans, Long, Jenkinson, Krauhaus, Ajaiyi, Arthurs, Ilunga.
Goals: Bromley – Charles 35mins. Barrow – Gordon 56, Rose 67mins
HT 0-1 FT 2-1
Att: 2,003
Referee: Mr R Madley