Barrow - Conference North Champions 2015!

Barrow - Conference North Champions 2015!

Players and management of Barrow celebrate winning the league
©Barrow AFC

Barrow have won the Vanarama Conference North after defeating a very competitive Lowestoft Town.

The day was always going to be an emotional one and not just for Barrow as Lowestoft's joint manager Micky Chapman was ending his affiliation with the club after 35 years.

Sam Sheridan scores Barrow's opener
©Barrow AFC

Barrow knew that a win in East Anglia would confirm the Conference North title having been two points clear of second placed AFC Fylde at the start of the day. And Barrow took the incentive to win the title early on as Sam Sheridan pounced upon a defensive error to put the Bluebirds in the lead with a right foot finish into the top left corner of the net, sending the strong Barrow contingent (about 700 of them) wild.

Niall Cowperthwaite is congratulated by his team-mates
©Rob Howarth/Focus Images

Barrow continued to dominate the match and doubled their lead before the break. Goalscorer Sheridan was then involved in the second Bluebirds goal as he passed the ball down the left hand side past the onlooking Lowestoft wall to find winger Andy Haworth who drilled the ball into the box for defender Niall Cowperthwaite to tap-in from close range.

The half time whistle came and went but Lowestoft once again switched off and Andy Cook was brought down inside the area by defender Curtis Haynes-Brown.

Jason Walker scores Barrow's third goal from the spot
©Rob Howarth/Focus Images

Barrow's regular penalty taker was Jason Walker and the local boy who returned to Barrow this season after a couple of years in the Conference and League 2 kept his cool as he usually does to smash the ball straight down the middle of the net past the Lowestoft keeper Ashlee Jones. Walker is used to scoring important goals for Barrow having won the FA Trophy at Wembley in 2010 for the Bluebirds against Stevenage.

As Barrow looked like they were sailing to victory Lowestoft got back into the game after 72 minutes when Cowperthwaite was adjudged to have tripped Shaun Bammant in the box. Jack Ainsley stepped up and scored to create a nervous end to the game for Barrow.

Barrow supporters rush onto the pitch at the final whistle
©Barrow AFC

And despite Barrow continuing to dominant every aspect of the match Lowestoft doubled their lead as Sam Gaughran chipped the ball across goal for Haynes-Brown to head in at the back post with three minutes of time to go.

Barrow fans celebrate
©Barrow AFC

But Barrow weren't to be denied the title which they had long fought with AFC Fylde to win and hundreds of Barrow fans rushed onto the pitch to congratulate and celebrate with the Barrow players and staff.

Barrow will join the elite of non-league next season with the continued ambition that the club will be back in the football league within five years.

Captain Simon Grand lifts the title
©Barrow AFC

Barrow favourite Jason Walker carries the trophy through the crowd of supporters
©Daniel Law