Barrow 2 – 1 Wealdstone

Barrow AFC

Enterprise National League

2 - 1

Wealdstone

KO: 15:00 | Sat 3rd Oct ’26

TEN-MAN Wealdstone couldn’t extend their two-game unbeaten run despite a determined rear-guard effort, falling to a 94th-minute goal from Barrow substitute Keaton Ward.

Enjoying the best of the second-half chances after an even first 45, the home team’s prospects were significantly aided by Dylan Kadji’s needless dismissal for a second yellow card on 59 minutes.

After that, Stones’ backs-to-the-wall effort, including Dante Baptiste saving an Alex Reid penalty, was ultimately in vain when Ward stole in to poke home deep into injury-time.

It was cruel on Gary Waddock’s side, who went toe-to-toe with their in-form opponents before the break and had to weather plenty of pressure with a man less for the last 30 minutes or so.

The Wealdstone boss made two changes to Tuesday’s starting line-up with Fela Olomola and Ronan Maher coming in for Dan Chesters, who moved to the bench, and Aaron Henry – who missed out with a groin strain. Milton Oni, signed on loan from Colchester United late this week, took a place on the Wealdstone bench.

Both sides signalled their attacking intent within the first ten minutes. Maher’s inswinging cross bounced just past Fejiri Okanebirhie, forcing home keeper Ben Winterbottom into a dive to his right to tip behind. Then former Stones’ hitman Reid scuffed wide of the far post a good chance at goal around 15 yards out.

Maher was involved again after 21 minutes, firing over from the edge of the box after skipping past two challenges on a weaving run from out to in.

And, having had a chance apiece early on, the two sides traded goals within a three-minute spell.

Stones were undone by a Bluebirds’ corner routine which saw captain Rekeem Harper engineer free space aplenty to weigh up a 23rd-minute Corey Edwards delivery before shooting home with a controlled volley that gave Baptiste no chance.

Maher it was, the man most likely, who grabbed the Wealdstone reply. After patient build-up play, the winger got Okanebirhie’s lay-off under his spell with a cool first touch then stroked a low right-footed shot inside the far post before wheeling away in delight to celebrate in front of the vocal travelling Stones’ faithful.

The only other moments of note during an evenly-contested went first 45 went Barrow’s way.

Edwards fired a 20-yarder just wide of the post after a neat one-two on the half-hour mark. And soon after, Baptiste beat out a long-range Thompson free-kick with his defensive colleagues able to block behind Kennedy Digie’s close-range rebound.

Kadji gave his teammates a mountain to climb just before the hour mark, sent from the field of play for a second yellow card after stopping a possible counter-attack. A previous red card at Worthing back in August means that’s a second sending-off for the midfielder this term.

Barrow signalled their wish to take full advantage soon enough. Sub Dan Mooney’s teasing cross was glanced wide by the head of Xavier Benjamin, then Reid scuffed a first-time shot from Mooney’s low pass into the box.

Waddock introduced three subs on 65 minutes – Jack Cook for Joe Newton, Dan Chesters for Olomola and debutant Oni for Okenabirhie – to try and stem the flow as part of a reorganisation, but the host’s tails were firmly up regardless.

Baptiste came up with the penalty heroics just before the 70-minute mark, denying his ex-colleague Reid by plunging low to his right to push the ball away. The goalie had brought down Reid as the two raced for a loose ball after Edwards’ low shot have been saved, but made amends by reading the striker’s spot-kick.

Baptiste and his defenders then stood firm to repel a couple of dangerous inswinging corners, the latter particularly well dealt with by the keeper as he pushed a swirling ball away from under the crossbar.

The Stones’ change of personnel, which also included Carmichael Uchenna replacing goalscorer Maher, gradually had a settling effect and started to limit good chances for Adam Murray’s side.

Indeed, it wasn’t until the 85th minute that Baptiste was troubled again; this time having to back-pedal and tip over an inventive header under pressure from Bluebirds’ sub Innes Cameron.

But there was to be a very late sting in the tail, leaving the Stones empty-handed on the long trip back from Cumbria.

An inswinging cross was headed back across goal from the far post and sub Ward was on hand to make it four wins in a row for Barrow.

Line-Up: Baptiste; McAvoy (c), Francis-Clarke, Kanu; Maher (Uchenna 78), Kadji, Wells-Morrison, J Newton (Cook 65); Olomola (Chesters 65), Okenabirhie (Oni 66); Norris.Subs not used: Johnson (GK), Waweru, Kaunda.

Att: 2,536 (86 Stones’ fans)

Match Report:

Danny Payne Post Match Interview HERE

Jon Taffel Match Pics HERE

Match Highlights:

WFC HERE

BAFC HERE

	Non League Newspaper
Barrow AFC Website Match Report A fantastic volley from Rekeem Harper and Keaton Wards’ last gasp strike saw Barrow claim three points against ten-man Wealdstone. The Bluebirds made a quick start in the encounter, with Alex Reid coming close seven minutes in. The number nine was played in behind, yet his resulting effort trickled narrowly wide. After chances for both teams, it was Adam Murray’s side that broke the deadlock. 23 minutes in, Corey Edwards swung a corner in from the left which was met by an unmarked Rekeem Harper. The 26 year old made no mistake, volleying it home to make it four goals in as many games. Only moments later, Wealdstone had found their equaliser through the lively Ronan Maher, who swept the ball beyond Ben Winterbottom. Barrow’s final chance of the half came through a Seb Thompson free kick. He struck the set piece fiercely, forcing Dante Baptiste into a good save down low. Half-time: Barrow AFC 1-1 Wealdstone FC A scrappy beginning to the second 45 was defined just before the hour mark when Wealdstone saw themselves reduced to ten men. Dylan Kadji, who had been on a yellow card since early on, pulled Thierry Latty-Fairweather down as he advanced into the final third, giving the referee no option but to send him off. Soon after, Barrow almost made their man advantage count when Dan Mooney’s delightful cross was headed narrowly wide of the left post by Xavier Benjamin. With 67 minutes on the clock, delightful link up between Dan Mooney and Corey Edwards offered the latter a chance to shoot in the area. His effort was pushed clear by Baptiste and, in an attempt to get the ball under control, the keeper brought down Alex Reid with his outstretched arm, giving the Bluebirds a penalty. From the subsequent spot-kick, Baptiste redeemed himself, saving Alex Reid’s penalty at full stretch to his right. Barrow applied constant pressure in the remaining minutes,frequently calling Baptiste into action. Yet, it wasn’t until right at the death that he and the Wealdstone backline were really tested. 94 minutes in, Dan Mooney whipped a trademark cross into the back post. The ball was headed across the six yard box, filled with Wealdstone bodies, and prodded home by Keaton Ward to seal a dramatic three points. Full-time: Barrow AFC 2-1 Wealdstone FC Barrow AFC: Ben Winterbottom, Marcel Oakley, Corey Edwards, Kennedy Digie, Alex Reid, George Walker, Seb Thompson, Paul Kalambayi, Rakeem Harper, Xavier Benjamin, Thierry Latty-Fairweather. Subs: Keaton Ward, Innes Cameron, Arian Allen, Jack Earing, Danny Amos, Dan Mooney, Mikey Lane. Wealdstone FC: Dante Baptiste, Joseph Newton, Jack Wells-Morrison, Luke Norris, Olufela Olomola, Aidan Francis-Clarke, Connor McAvoy, Fejiri Okenabirhie, Ronan Maher, Abraham Kanu. Subs: Endurance Johnson, Jack Cook, Daniel Chesters, Carmichael Uchenna, Wilson Waweru, Milton Oni, Anaru Kaunda.