Redditch United 2

Barrow 0

TWO goals in the last ten minutes left the Bluebirds sick as parrots at Valley Stadium.

A Redditch United double substitution with 15 minutes remaining saw the introduction of striker Arthur Appleton who made one and scored one to leave Barrow boss Lee Turnbull scratching his head.

With six minutes to go Barrow's stout defending was finally undone as Appleton's strike from just inside the area pinged off three visiting defenders and into the path of waiting hitman Scott Rickards who drilled a low shot past 'keeper Andy Capp.

But the Redditch celebration was dampened as Barrow complained to referee and assistant about an offside shout which in the end fell on deaf ears.

Two minutes later and Appleton got his name on the scoresheet as he avoided the interests of Karl Colley at the far post and thumped home from close range. Barrow had been given a stern warning just a minute earlier as Appleton's curling effort, destined for the top corner, was acrobatically tipped over by Barrow stopper Capp.

Before the introduction of Appleton, Barrow proved that the game would be far from a repeat of the Holker Street hammering which saw the Reds romp 6-1 in the reverse fixture earlier in the year.

But the Valley visitors lacked a cutting edge in attack with Mike Kewley and Andy Hill leading the line as both found it hard to carve out any opportunity.

On 67 minutes the Bluebirds should have made one count as wideman Steve Ridley made his mind up to run at the Redditch backline, skipped past a few half challenges and had the goal at his mercy only to slip over at the vital time.

Meanwhile, Redditch was also enjoying a couple of golden opportunities to score as the second half opened up.

Simon Hollis was found by Fraser McHugh at the near post but his lightest of touches was held on to by Capp in a magical reaction save.

But as the game looked to fade into a dismal goalless draw a couple of subs changed the game and ruin Barrow's previous league form of four games unbeaten.