Tale of Two penalties as Poppies draw 1-1 at Barrow

Barrow 1
Thompson (pen) 69

Kettering Town 1
Beardsley (pen) 33

Kettering Town made a third trip North to Holker Street to play a twice postponed league match, in which the consequences of the result had significantly changed since the original fixture date.

With the title already secured, the pressure was off the Poppies at this stage of the season, but Barrow are now right in amongst the teams battling for a play-off spot to decide who joins Kettering in the BSP next season. Cooper brought in goalkeeper Nick Bussey, Luke Graham and David Galbriath, as Stuart Dorrill joined the Poppies bench.

A good reception for Kettering from the home side and fans as both teams quick to settle on a sunny evening with a firmer pitch than of late and Kettering get an early free-kick but Westcarr's effort sails harmlessly over the bar with 5 minutes gone. Demspter picks up and early yellow card but the Barrow free-kick comes to nothing.

Branston headed into the box from a Dempster cross and the balls comes out to Solkhon but his header is easily collected by Deasy in the home goal. Barrow came close as Boyd picked out McNulty in the box but couldn't steer his downward header inside the post. A corner for Kettering is scrambled behind and from the second ball into the box the Poppies are awarded a penalty kick when Dempster is fouled, up stepped Chris Beardsley to put Kettering 1-0 up from the spot on 33 minutes.

The home side almost forced an equaliser minutes later but a soild header by Jones rebounds off the crossbar and is scrambled clear by the Poppies defence. Another close call for Kettering and a last-ditch goal-line clearance from a Jones strike keeps the Poppies 1-0 lead intact. Westcarr puts through Beardsley but the final strike by Solkhon is high and harmlessly sails over the crossbar.

Half-time: Barrow 0 Kettering Town 1

Second-half underway and Barrow immediately on the attack to try and salvage something from this match and continue their impressive late surge into the play-off picture. A free-kick 25yds out for Kettering by Galbraith sails just over the crossbar as the Poppies not content to rest on their narrow lead.

The home side beginning to pile on the pressure in an attempt to get level and Kettering having to defend for a spell as Beardsley is replaced with Marna for the Poppies midway through the second period. Barrow awarded a penalty for a push in the box and Chris Thompson blasts his side level with 20 minutes to go.

The tempo and tension builds going into the final 15 minutes with the two sides all square at 1-1 following two successful penalty kicks and Gary Mills goes into the referee's notebook. Brown comes on for Thompson as Barrow look to be going for the win and Ryan Collis comes on for Mills.

Marna finds the ball at his feet on the edge of the box and perhaps should have scored but with the keeper to beat his shot is poor and is easily collected by Deasy in the home goal with 8 minutes left. Tait on for Walker and shortly followed by Nelson coming on as Barrow make their final substitution going into stoppage time.

A last gasp free-kick by Boyd for Barrow 25yds out flies wide of the goal and as the ball comes back into the action the referee blows the final whistle and it's honours even at 1-1, with a penalty each providing the only goals of a lively encounter at Holker Street.

Att: 2,086

Kettering: Bussey, Kemp, Graham, Branston, Dempster, Galbraith, Solkhon, Mills, Robinson, Beardsley, Westcarr. Subs: Dorrill, Marna, Bridges, Collins, Eaden.

Barrow: Deasy, Woodyart, Jones, McNulty, Elderton, Bond, Henny, Bond, Boyd, Walker, Rogan, Thompson. Subs: Sheridan, Brown, Nelson, Bayliss, Tait.