Sam Foley hopes shock win over Bromley can spark Barrow’s survival bid

Sam Foley believes Barrow’s shock win over leaders Bromley could lay the foundations for a successful fight to preserve the club’s Football League status.

Second-half goals from Josh Gordon and Danny Rose ended Bromley’s 21-game unbeaten run after the Ravens led at half-time through Ashley Charles’ free kick.

Despite victory lifting them off the bottom, the Cumbrians remain in the relegation zone, two points from safety. Bromley still have a five-point lead at the summit.

But, after breaking an eight-game winless run and scoring twice at Holker Street for the first time since last November, Barrow will take enormous confidence into their final seven games – four of them at home.

“We still have a lot to do,” said interim head coach Foley, assisted for the first time by ex-Newport and Boston boss Graham Coughlan.

“This could be the building blocks for something but we just need to get our heads down and carry on.”

Foley admitted he remained “placid” when Rose prodded in from a Niall Canavan header after 67 minutes.

“I wasn’t too high or too low,” he said. “Getting in front was big but we still had a job to do.

“The final whistle brought joy and relief. But I am delighted for the players, they have worked so hard.

“The one thing that was missing was a three-point win so I am very pleased.”

Bromley were chasing a fourth successive 1-0 win and looked on course when Charles curled in a stunning 20-yard free kick 10 minutes from the break.

Wyll Stanway kept Barrow in contention with a couple of saves early in the second half before the home side made the most of the howling gale at their backs.

Gordon deflected in Connor Mahoney’s shot after 56 minutes before Rose pounced 12 minutes later.

Gordon could have finished with a hat-trick while Grant Smith saved from Jack Earing and Rekeem Harper to prevent an even bigger defeat.

On Coughlan’s arrival, Foley added: “It is an opportunity to bring someone in who is experienced. He has been great for me as a sounding board.”

Bromley boss Andy Woodman admitted: “We have got to look at ourselves and realise that wasn’t good enough.

“We got everything wrong. But let’s give some credit to Barrow.

“We can’t say we did everything wrong and they got lucky. They are fighting for their lives and ran all over us.

“I am pretty sure their owner wished they had played like that all season.

“We made wrong decisions all over the pitch. I just felt we were the victims of our own bad decisions all through the game.

“I haven’t had these interviews too many times this season. We have got to look at ourselves and realise that wasn’t good enough.

“The wind was horrific and didn’t half level it up. I am by no means saying we are a footballing team but it was a lottery we didn’t do particularly well at.

“Conditions were tough and before the game I knew it was going to be tough.

“We have got to stick to what I tell them to do. I am not saying they came away from that on purpose but the way we got spooked in the second half, we caused our own problems.”