Barrow 0, York City 0

Smart saves by Tim Deasy denied Christian Smith and Richard Brodie, but the home ’keeper was far from overworked as a modest Barrow team maintained their four-point advantage over third-bottom City in the battle against relegation.

The result represented City’s fifth goalless draw in nine league games with Martin Foyle’s men having now failed to find the net during nine of their last 12 Blue Square Premier matches.

Of the four goals scored in that period, two were claimed by Brodie against a woeful Weymouth team.

Mark Robinson’s penalty against Northwich and a heavily-deflected Onome Sodje effort at Forest Green accounted for the others.

At least the restoration of Brodie to a central striking role and Adam Smith’s presence on the right flank at Holker Street gave hope that City can find the attacking inspiration to fire themselves to safety.

Daniel McBreen, without a goal in 21 league fixtures, was relieved of his role as the side’s lone central striker and dropped to the bench, along with Sodje, as Foyle opted for a 4-4-2 formation.

The switch in system did not provide goals on this occasion, but should be worth persevering with during the crucial last four games of the season.

At the other end of the pitch, Foyle’s post-match assertion that there is little wrong with his back line was supported by a 17th clean sheet of the season.

City started yesterday’s match brightly with left-winger Simon Brown’s third-minute volley dipping over Deasy’s crossbar.

Brodie also missed the target with an excellent headed chance after being picked out on the far post by a Ben Purkiss cross from the right.

Barrow’s best spell of the half saw Lee McEvilly’s swift shot on the turn held by Michael Ingham at his near post on 19 minutes and Jason Walker narrowly clear the crossbar with an acrobatic volley shortly afterwards.

On 31 minutes, Purkiss aimed an edge-of-the-box free-kick straight into the home wall but, moments later, Deasy showed great alertness to smother at Christian Smith’s feet after the City midfielder had charged into the penalty box to collect a Brown through ball.

Barrow’s Mark Boyd had Ingham scrambling to his right on the stroke of half-time with a 30-yard free-kick that narrowly missed the target.

Adam Boyes, still waiting for his first league a goal after 23 appearances, then sliced wide of the near post when the ball broke promisingly to the 18-year-old rookie in the home box.

A low-key second half saw Carlos Logan force a diving save from Ingham on 63 minutes after a powerful 25-yard strike. For City, Boyes’ 15-yard shot on the turn sailed wide and Brodie’s rising drive from a similar distance proved a comfortable height for Deasy.

Logan drove across the face of goal after Purkiss had been robbed of possession near the halfway line.

The Minstermen then went close to ending their goal drought and snatching a priceless three points that would have lifted them out of the relegation zone in the 90th minute. Brodie’s 12-yard, right-footed shot, following a Sodje cross, was saved low to his right by Deasy though.

Eastbourne, Forest Green, Weymouth and Lewes now stand between City and Blue Square Premier survival. Hardly the world’s most intimidating run-in but, for a shot-shy side with just three victories in 26 league games, safety still seems very much in the balance.

Match facts

Barrow 0, York City 0

Team rating

Key: 10 – Faultless; 9 – Outstanding; 8 – Excellent; 7 – Good; 6 – Average; 5 – Below par; 4 – Poor; 3 – Dud; 2 – Hopeless; 1 – Retire

Michael Ingham 7
Ben Purkiss 7
David McGurk 7
Danny Parslow 7
Shaun Pejic 8
Adam Smith 6
Levi Mackin 6
Christian Smith 7
Simon Brown 6
Adam Boyes 6
Richard Brodie 6

Substitutions: Onome Sodje (for Brown, 64) 6 Daniel McBreen (for A Smith, 86) Mark Greaves (for Pejic, 90) Subs not used: Mimms, Robinson.

City’s star man: Pejic – gave a strong display in an unfamiliar left-back role.

Barrow: Tim Deasy, Simon Spender, Paul Jones, Steve McNulty, Gareth Jelleyman, Brendan McGill, Andy Bond, Mark Boyd, Carlos Logan (Paul Brown, 90), Lee McEvilly (Nick Rogan, 87), Jason Walker (Lee Hunt, 87). Subs (not used): Nat Kerr, Alan Martin.

Bookings: Jones 39, A Smith 45, Bond 81, Mackin 81.

Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire). Rating: generally sensible and firm in his decisions.

Attendance: 2,168 (269 from City).

Cross of the match: Purkiss’ ball to the far post that Brodie headed off target on 18 minutes.

Shot of the match: Jason Walker’s clever improvised volley that narrowly cleared Ingham’s crossbar midway through the first half.

Save of the match: Deasy smothering at Christian Smith’s feet in the first half.

City player watch: Adam Smith

Goal attempts on target: 0
Goal attempts off target: 0
Blocked goal attempts: 2
Passes to own player: 21
Passes to opposition: 9
Crosses to own player: 5
Crosses to opposition: 8
Pass completion rate: 60.5 per cent
Dribbles ball retained: 5
Dribbles ball lost: 5
Dribble completion rate: 50 per cent
Headers: 5
Tackles: 3
Clearances, blocks and interceptions: 1
Fouls won: 0
Fouls conceded: 1
Offsides: 0
Yellow cards: 1
Final summary: Recalled winger Adam Smith enjoyed a lively first-half display on the right flank and provided a healthy number of crosses with an encouraging percentage finding his team-mates. He also beat an opponent as many times as he was stopped in his tracks. Smith tired though and his distribution began to become wayward before his substitution on 86 minutes. He also deserved his 45th-minute yellow card for an untidy challenge on Mark Boyd.