Former Barrow striker Tyler Smith came back to haunt his old side with a late winner to ensure their quest to make the League Two play-offs goes down to the final day after a narrow 2-1 loss at home to Bradford.
The Bluebirds have endured a poor run at the worst part of the season with just one point from six.
Barrow goalkeeper Paul Farman produced a good stop to keep out Andy Cook in the 20th minute, while talented 20-year-old Bobby Pointon fired the Bantams ahead with a fine strike after 29 minutes.
Home forward Cole Stockton had an effort cleared off the line and their pressing told as Kian Spence levelled with a fine free-kick on the hour.
Pete Wild made four changes in the final 15 minutes in a bid for the home side to get a season-defining goal but Barrow substitute David Worrall could only fire straight at Sam Walker.
Instead it was the visitors who secured the three points as the hosts were left with a nervous wait.
Smith, who spent the first half of the 2018-19 season on loan at Barrow, came off the bench to score a stoppage-time winner from Cook's flick on.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
- Line-ups
- Match Stats
- Live Text
Line-ups
Barrow
Formation 3-5-2
1Farman
17Chester24Feely6Canavan
18Stephenson8Spence4Campbell15Gotts11Newby
20Acquah23Stockton
- 1FarmanBooked at 90mins
- 17Chester
- 24Feely
- 6Canavan
- 18StephensonBooked at 66minsSubstituted forWorrallat 76'minutes
- 8Spence
- 4CampbellSubstituted forWhitfieldat 76'minutes
- 15Gotts
- 11Newby
- 20AcquahSubstituted forTelfordat 82'minutes
- 23StocktonBooked at 32minsSubstituted forProctorat 76'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Worrall
- 9Proctor
- 12Lillis
- 16Foley
- 19Telford
- 34Whitfield
Bradford
Formation 3-4-2-1
1Walker
22Oyegoke5Platt18Kelly
2Halliday11Gilliead6Smallwood36Wright
23Pointon8Kavanagh
9Cook
- 1Walker
- 22OyegokeBooked at 54mins
- 5Platt
- 18Kelly
- 2Halliday
- 11GillieadSubstituted forOduorat 77'minutes
- 6Smallwood
- 36Wright
- 23PointonBooked at 50minsSubstituted forSmithat 83'minutesSubstituted forRichardsat 90+4'minutes
- 8KavanaghSubstituted forChapmanat 82'minutesBooked at 90minsSubstituted forTomkinsonat 90+4'minutes
- 9Cook
Substitutes
- 3Ridehalgh
- 12Oduor
- 13Doyle
- 14Smith
- 20Chapman
- 31Tomkinson
- 32Richards
- Referee:
- Ross Joyce
- Attendance:
- 4,527
Match Stats
Home TeamBarrowAway TeamBradford
- Possession
- Home42%
- Away58%
- Shots
- Home9
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away5
- Corners
- Home1
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home15
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Match ends, Barrow 1, Bradford City 2.
Full Time
Second Half ends, Barrow 1, Bradford City 2.
Post update
Corner, Barrow. Conceded by Tyreik Wright.
Post update
Foul by Ciarán Kelly (Bradford City).
Post update
Robbie Gotts (Barrow) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Attempt missed. Rory Feely (Barrow) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Robbie Gotts with a cross following a set piece situation.
Post update
Foul by Clarke Oduor (Bradford City).
Post update
Elliot Newby (Barrow) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Offside, Bradford City. Andy Cook is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt saved. Ben Whitfield (Barrow) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Niall Canavan with a headed pass.
Substitution
Substitution, Bradford City. Lewis Richards replaces Tyler Smith.
Substitution
Substitution, Bradford City. Jonathan Tomkinson replaces Harry Chapman.
Booking
Paul Farman (Barrow) is shown the yellow card.
Booking
Harry Chapman (Bradford City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Harry Chapman (Bradford City).
Post update
Elliot Newby (Barrow) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Richard Smallwood (Bradford City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Dominic Telford (Barrow).
Goal!
Goal! Barrow 1, Bradford City 2. Tyler Smith (Bradford City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Andy Cook with a through ball.
Post update
Corner, Bradford City. Conceded by James Chester.
Page 1 of 6
These comments are now closed. 48 commentsComments
Join the conversation
D
Comment posted by David Firth, at 22:25 23 AprDavid Firth
See AlsoRugby league cult hero Terry Hill dies suddenlySermons about Isaiah 5417 - SermonCentral.comSermons about Isaiah 4110 - SermonCentral.comSermons about Hebrews 415 - SermonCentral.com22:25 23 Apr
Wow. Shades of 1996 for City - dare we hope 🤷♂️. Crawley massive favourites but great finish whatever happens !
V
Comment posted by valdos, at 22:23 23 Aprvaldos
22:23 23 Apr
Out of our hands but last day nerves have caused upsets before. Just do your bit Saturday lads. Alexander has done a good job since taking over, look forward to seeing him with his own players next season. Hopefully in league one.
L
Comment posted by Leaguefan, at 22:24 23 AprLeaguefan
22:24 23 Apr
If results go the right way, City could be in the playoffs 😳
Unlikely and would never be thought of during the season. At one stage they looked to be making a determined effort for National League status. So……H
Comment posted by Harrogate Bantam, at 22:39 23 AprHarrogate Bantam
22:39 23 Apr
Well done City, surely we can't do it! It will be some atmosphere at VP on Saturday if we do!
G
Reply posted by georgiasdad, at 13:00 24 Aprgeorgiasdad
13:00 24 Apr
to Harrogate Bantam
georgiasdad replied:
Up The Chickens...
P
Comment posted by Paul, at 22:20 23 AprPaul
22:20 23 Apr
Well done to Morecambe for sneaking promotion.
J
Reply posted by John, at 22:23 23 AprJohn
22:23 23 Apr
to Paul
John replied:
Amazing result
D
Comment posted by daw, at 22:35 23 Aprdaw
22:35 23 Apr
Totally dominated the first half, it's the worst I have seen Barrow since coming back into the league.
Still a tall order for us but some good battling team performances of late.
Well played City.S
Comment posted by Sven Gonad Darrikson, at 12:04 24 AprSven Gonad Darrikson
12:04 24 Apr
I'm amazed how much doom and gloom there seems to be amongst Barrow fans!
Only been in the league three years and pushing for promotion!
Every one of you should be behind the team spurring them on!
There are a lot of clubs that would love to be in your position!
Just enjoy the ride.E
Reply posted by extralargeman, at 19:29 24 Aprextralargeman
19:29 24 Apr
to Sven Gonad Darrikson
extralargeman replied:
You obviously weren’t at Holker street last night, over 4,000 crowd urging a poorly performing Barrow over the line.
K
Comment posted by know your rights, at 23:04 23 Aprknow your rights
23:04 23 Apr
Never mind Barrow. Still all to play for.
S
Comment posted by stanley, at 23:03 23 Aprstanley
23:03 23 Apr
Bradford have every possibility to make a play off after this game
A
Comment posted by Accy Stanley fan here, at 05:20 24 AprAccy Stanley fan here
05:20 24 Apr
Best wishes Barrow against Mansfield! I hope you make the play-offs!
S
Comment posted by sceebuck, at 07:58 24 Aprsceebuck
07:58 24 Apr
It's like watching school kids some times,(sorry kids). Even worse, it's like watching 11 strangers. You can see the attitude of some players is 'not my fault' !!!! There's only Farnham that shows any passion, if it wasn't for him we'd have been fighting relegation never mind trying for the play-offs. As somebody has already mentioned....Wild still doesn't seem to know his 1st eleven
S
Reply posted by sayitagainsam, at 13:28 24 Aprsayitagainsam
13:28 24 Apr
to sceebuck
sayitagainsam replied:
With 1 game to go still doesn`t know who to play
B
Comment posted by Boxinghagler1980, at 22:44 23 AprBoxinghagler1980
22:44 23 Apr
Let's hope city can make that last play off place.
R
Reply posted by ruc2123man, at 18:44 24 Aprruc2123man
18:44 24 Apr
to Boxinghagler1980
ruc2123man replied:
No chance
S
Comment posted by Sports fan, at 23:42 23 AprSports fan
23:42 23 Apr
Barrows team seems mentally gone. Even if they make the playoffs just can’t see them winning at Wembley.
Crawley look to be in a similar place of poor form. Doncaster are flying though!
Hopefully the mighty Bantams can make the playoffs and it’ll be City v Donny in the final at Wembley!!
K
Comment posted by knicaMan1960, at 00:22 24 AprknicaMan1960
00:22 24 Apr
Leicester City fan here, dad from Barrow so Bluebird's my 2nd team. Come in guts please do not throw it away now ! . Fingers crossed for you last day home to Mansfield, come on Bluebirds !!!. Great night here at the King Power 5-0 & almost there !. Go Bluebird's ✌️
S
Comment posted by saldav, at 19:28 24 Aprsaldav
19:28 24 Apr
I’d love to see Barrow in the playoffs but I doubt we’d be successful in league one with the lack of supporters, therefore lack of income. I think we need a few reasonable seasons in league two and build some support to make promotion worthwhile. We suffered instant relegation in the sixties and nothing good came of that. Fingers crossed that we get to visit Wembley again though.
E
Reply posted by exiledyorkie, at 21:18 24 Aprexiledyorkie
21:18 24 Apr
to saldav
exiledyorkie replied:
Saldev.....your team have had a great season.......don't worry about next season.....just push for promotion. The 60's are ancient history.....not relevant. My team won't make the play-offs.....good luck
M
Comment posted by mark, at 22:22 23 Aprmark
22:22 23 Apr
I thought it was grrrrrreat😀
P
Comment posted by poo, at 22:20 23 Aprpoo
22:20 23 Apr
Absolute garbage
S
Comment posted by sayitagainsam, at 00:04 24 Aprsayitagainsam
00:04 24 Apr
Really poor from Barrow 6 wins in 23 games and you want a play-off place don`t deserve one and won`t get one, to many players on contract next season who shouldn`t be, Wild you are the manager and after 45games you still don`t know you best forward combination, football can change very quickly and Barrow could be at the other end of the table next season going by the last 23 games it`s been poor.
S
Reply posted by sceebuck, at 07:53 24 Aprsceebuck
07:53 24 Apr
to sayitagainsam
sceebuck replied:
Couldn't agree with you more.
T
Comment posted by terry munroe , at 10:21 24 Aprterry munroe
10:21 24 Apr
hope the Bantams make the play-offs they will walk it -if not put a bet on them for next season
T
Comment posted by terry munroe , at 10:15 24 Aprterry munroe
10:15 24 Apr
meanwhile Milly the man wild left behind is performing miracles at Halifax with no money
S
Reply posted by sayitagainsam, at 13:27 24 Aprsayitagainsam
13:27 24 Apr
to terry munroe
sayitagainsam replied:
All the very best tonight Terry in your play-off match would be great to welcome Halifax to Holker Street next season.
