Barrow 1-3 Walsall: Dominant Saddlers return to winning ways in Cumbria

Mason Hancock scored a brace for Walsall to guide them to a 3-0 victory over relegation-threatened Barrow at Holker Street.

Albert Adomah opened the scoring in the 33rd-minute when he pounced on a rebound from Daniel Kanu’s initial effort.

Mason Hancock fired a low effort under Wyll Stanway on the cusp of half-time after Charlie Lakin delivered a smart low corner.

And Hancock added salt into gaping Barrow wounds when his free-kick missed everybody to find the far corner, before substitute Jovan Malcolm pulled a late goal back for the hosts.

After mathematically dropping out of the play-off hunt earlier this week, Walsall ended a run of back-to-back defeats with their first win in five games in League Two.

Darren Byfield made three changes to the team which suffered their heaviest defeat of the season against Cheltenham Town at Bescot last weekend.

Results in midweek mathematically ended the Saddlers’ play-off hopes, after Chesterfield beat Grimsby Town 2-1 on Tuesday night.

With nothing other than pride left to play for, Priestley Farquharson returned from a knee injury and replaced Harrison Burke in the heart of defence.

Rico Browne was restored at right-back and Jid Okeke also made his first start in eight games, as Connor Barrett and Aaron Loupalo-Bi dropped to the bench.

Barrow - who started the weekend second from bottom in League Two - were without leading goal scorer Josh Gordon who was ineligible to face his parent club.

Walsall started very loosely and nearly paid the price when Hancock was caught dwelling on the ball. Ben Whitfield pickpocketed him and squared for Isaac Fletcher who blazed high and over.

Kanu came agonisingly close to moving on to 20 goals for the season when he swept his volley inches wide after meeting Lakin’s first-time cross.

But the hosts had the better of the opening exchanges and were almost gifted the opener when a mix-up between Aden Flint and Myles Roberts almost proved costly.

The pair bumped into one another when Roberts rose to collect a corner, but the Walsall goalkeeper eventually gathered after precariously spilling the ball into his goalmouth.

Despite the Bluebirds’ brighter start, the better chances were still created by Walsall - who came close again when Kanu ran on to Okeke’s slick pass but was foiled by Stanway’s brave goalkeeping.

There was also a stoppage midway into the first half when Roberts took exception to a comment made by an individual in the home stand behind his goal.

Roberts was in conversation with referee Scott Oldham for a lengthy period alongside his teammates before play resumed.

Hancock had a crack at opening his goal scoring account for Walsall but his ambitious effort from distance flew wide of Stanway’s left-hand post.

Walsall had settled into the game after a tetchy start and took the lead when Adomah extended his season tally to eight goals in all competitions.

Kanu was found in behind and Stanway could only momentarily keep him out with his trailing leg. The ball then spun perilously back towards his goal and the Barrow goalkeeper only succeeded in clawing it straight for Adomah to tap-in.

After coming close earlier in the first, Hancock did score his maiden goal for the Saddlers on the cusp of half-time, as he doubled the visitors’ advantage in stoppage time.

Lakin delivered a clever low corner into the box and Hancock drove a low first-time finish underneath Stanway.

It was one-way traffic in the remaining moments of the first half and Stanway called upon again to turn behind Kanu’s fierce low shot from the edge of the box.

Walsall immediately started the second half on the front-foot when Jellis teed up Browne to fire into the midriff of Stanway.

Roberts sprung into action to make himself big and thwart Danny Rose from close-quarters, before Jamie Jellis forced a smart save from Stanway at the other end.

Hancock doubled his tally and ended the game as a contest when his free-kick from the right evaded Kanu and Flint inside the box to nestle into the far corner.

Substitute Aaron Loupalo-Bi drew a near post save from Stanway in the latter stages before Malcolm climbed off the bench to score a consolation for the hosts.

Kane Hemmings charged into the penalty area and teed up Malcolm to sweep a low finish beyond Roberts and into the far bottom corner.

Next, Walsall welcome Harrogate Town at Bescot next Saturday before travelling to league leaders Bromley on the final day.

Teams

Walsall (4-3-3): Roberts; Browne, Flint (c), Farquharson (Burke 89), Hancock; Jellis, Comley (Harper 89), Lakin; Adomah (Loupalo-Bi 82), Kanu (Pressley 82), Okeke (Clarke 72).

Subs: Hornby, Barrett.

Barrow (3-1-4-2): Stanway; Williams, MacDonald (Raglan 72), Anderson; McCann; Whitfield (Mahoney 55), Smith, Harper, Jackson (Newby 46); Rose (Hemmings 72), Fletcher (Malcolm 79).

Subs: Winterbottom.

Other details

Referee: Scott Oldham

Attendance: 3,831 (263)