Wyll Stanway’s second-half own goal saw Salford City salvage a 1-1 draw at Barrow as Karl Robinson’s men kept pace in the League Two play-off race.
The Ammies fought back after conceding a controversial Tyler Smith opener to extend their unbeaten record in the Football League against Barrow to 10 matches.
Buoyed by consecutive away wins against Grimsby Town and Bromley, with hopes of a top-seven finish revitalised, Salford started purposefully and came close to taking an early lead when Matty Lund drew shot-stopper Stanway into a smart near-post save.
With Barrow struggling to progress through the Ammies’ press, Tyrese Fornah and Ossama Ashley began to assert themselves and dictated play from deep. But, despite winning the midfield battle, Salford were restricted to speculative shots from range throughout a closely-contested opening half hour.
Luke Garbutt and Hakeb Adelakun both had efforts from the edge of the box blocked, before Liam Shephard’s free-kick sailed over the crossbar.
Against the run of play, Barrow edged ahead in contentious fashion when winger Tyler Smith scrambled home Ben Whitfield’s after 37 minutes, sparking protests from Salford players who claimed the striker’s effort had not crossed the line.
Rather than continue to vent their frustrations at referee Jacob Miles over his decision to award the goal, Salford set about restoring parity before the interval.
Behind at the break.
1-0 | #BRWSAL pic.twitter.com/uyuxSXsJf1
— Salford City FC (@SalfordCityFC) April 1, 2025
Deep into first-half stoppage time, striker Cole Stockton squandered a golden opportunity to score his 12th league goal of the season when he failed to prod past Stanway after the goalkeeper had parried an Adelakun effort into his path.
Although Barrow were second best for long periods of the contest, Andrew Whing’s men started the second-half brightly and threatened to extend their advantage as Dean Campbell and Whitfield fired over in quick succession.
After weathering the Bluebirds’ storm, the Ammies went close to drawing level when Whitfield’s blocked back pass broke for Stockton, who was denied by the reflexes of Stanway when clean through on goal.
Having made two crucial saves to deny Salford’s top marksman, Stanway’s goalkeeping heroics were marred after 69 minutes when, attempting to punch a Garbutt corner clear, he diverted the ball into his net.
Both sides committed players forward in search of a late winning goal, but neither defence was breached again as they were forced to share the spoils.
We maintain our unbeaten Football League record against Barrow with a comeback draw 🤝
1-1 | #BRWSAL pic.twitter.com/LsWhyZV13S
— Salford City FC (@SalfordCityFC) April 1, 2025
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