It was a case of so near yet so far for Barrow AFC last night, Bolton’s last gasp equaliser spoiling the celebrations.

The Bluebirds made four changes to the starting line up with a welcome return for Scott Quigley who was joined upfront by a recalled Dior Angus. Jason Taylor and Mike Jones were the other two returnees.

With manager David Dunn still isolating after a positive Covid 19 test it was Josh Lillis who squared up against former Barrow chief Ian Evatt.

It was a dream start for Lillis, as with less than two minutes on the clock former Bolton man Chris Taylor saw his perfectly struck 30 yard free kick nestle in the bottom corner. Two minutes later Barrow doubled that lead, Mike Jones slotted home from twelve yards with the keeper stranded.

On sixteen minutes Peter Kioso headed home to bring Bolton back into the game, although Barrow’s two goal lead was restored four minutes later when Angus beat the off side trap to make it 3-1.

Taylor missed a golden chance to make it 4-1, firing over after an Angus breakaway and the home side were made to pay as half time approached when Eoin Taylor rose unchallenged to go in at the break 3-2.

Bouyed by that goal, and an increasingly animated Evatt, Bolton started the second half much the brighter. Whilst Barrow had to replace Chris Taylor with Biggins at half time, a big setback as they began to struggle in the middle of the park. The Bluebird’s injury woes continued just before the hour when Quigley was forced off, his replacement being the recent Birmingham loanee Jayden Reid.

Biggins had an opportunity to extend the lead but his goal bound shot was well blocked. As the game wore on Barrow began to drop deeper inviting an increasingly desperate Bolton forward. It was backs to the wall for the last few minutes with the home side unable to clear their lines. With the game in its fifth minute of injury time (after the referee had signaled four) Bolton’s pressure paid off, Sarcevic forcing the ball home in a crowded penalty area.

The result leaves Barrow still searching for their first win after their return to the league and sees them sitting in 21st in the table with Bolton just one place above them.

“It’s always a sucker punch when it happens in the last minute like that so the boys are devastated but we will dust ourselves down and go again,” Lillis said in his post match interview.

“We got a fantastic start. We’ve been banging on about that, taking the game to the opposition, and the lads did that tonight so it’s just unfortunate they couldn’t get rewarded.

“There were external factors which meant the boys were more than up for this game so there was a good feel about it”

“That win will come for us, it will. This is a new bunch, in a new league, but it will come for us, I think you can see that.

“I spoke to the Manager and he’s gutted, like the rest of us.”

Barrow: Dixon, Barry, Zouma, Platt, Brough, J Taylor, C Taylor (Biggins 46), M Jones, Kay (92), Angus, Quigley (Reid 55).
Subs not used: Moloney, Hird, James.

Booked: M Jones, Zouma.

Bolton Wanderers: Crellin, Santos, Delaney, Comley, Doyle, Sarcevic, Crawford (Darcy 80), Brockbank (Gordon 75), Gnahoua, Baptiste, Kioso.
Subs not used: Hickman, Taft, Mascoll, Greenidge, Tutte.

Booked: Brockbank, Comley.

Referee: Peter Wright