BARROW 1, SALFORD CITY 1

Defender Theo Vassell’s second-half own-goal helped battling Barrow extend their unbeaten mini revival to three Sky Bet League Two matches.

Vassell turned in Sam McClelland’s pass 20 minutes from time after Ryan Watson’s early penalty gave Neil Wood’s visitors the lead.

Pete Wild’s side then needed three Paul Farman saves in the closing stages to protect the point – the Bluebirds’ seventh from a possible nine.

But it could have been a full house had substitute Billy Waters not been denied deep in stoppage time by Alex Cairns.

Back-to-back 1-0 wins over Bradford and Stockport had pushed AFC up to 11th, five points off the play-offs.

Salford, who have never lost to the Cumbrians in six previous meetings, sat sixth.

A 5-2 win at Mansfield last Saturday ended a run of three games without victory for the Ammies.

Unsurprisingly, boss Pete Wild named an unchanged starting team after the recent six points haul.

One change from the postponed original game on January 21 was referee Scott Oldham for previous man in the middle, Sam Barrott.

After a torpid opening 10 minutes, Salford went ahead from the spot. Louie Barry was allowed to drift into the area from the left wing only for his run to be halted by Ray’s clumsy challenge.

There were few home protests at the award of Salford’s first penalty of the season.

Watson did the rest, rifling in his seventh goal of the campaign via the underside of the crossbar, much to the delight, no doubt, of watching Salford shareholder, Ryan Giggs.

Josh Kay’s foul on Ryan Leak brought Barrow’s double match winner the game’s first caution.

Salford continued to dominate, and Watson fired over from distance as the visitors looked to make it 2-0.

Eventually, AFC found a cutting edge and Kay’s centre from the home left was crashed against Alex Cairns’ near post by Robbie Gotts.

Ged Garner, searching for his first Barrow goal at the sixth attempt, forced a vital stop from one-time Bluebirds’ loanee Cairns.

Salford still carried a threat and Ray partially atoned for his earlier indiscretion with a vital clearance from Luke Bolton’s cross.

Kay was the subject of a stern lecture from referee Oldham before the second half kicked off.

And his game was finally over after 55 minutes when he and Garner made way for Jake Young and Ben Whitfield.

The latter’s first touch was to flash a 30-yard free kick just wide of Cairns’ near post.

Barrow were now in the ascendancy but with Cairns still largely untroubled. Billy Waters and Sam Foley replaced White and Neal with 27 minutes remaining prior to a booking for AFC assistant, Adam Temple.

A large slice of luck was required to bring Barrow on terms.

Having done the hard work, Barrow almost immediately threw it away as Farman’s fumble presented a chance for Vassell but the defender couldn’t direct his header on target.

Then Barry fired over after the home defence was spreadeagled by a ball from midfield.

Both sides chased a late winner with Barrow twice going close. Cairns saved superbly from Young while Foley dragged a left foot shot wide.

Farman then produced three vital stops before Waters fluffed his lines in the closing seconds with only Cairns to beat from six yards.