ALDERSHOT TN 1, BARROW AFC 1

ALDERSHOT Town, after scrambling an injury-time equaliser against Barrow, had to wait until Tuesday for confirmation of their place in the National League play-offs.

Bromley’s goalless draw against Barrow in midweek means that Aldershot will finish in the top seven and their final fixture at Sutton United this Saturday will be a battle for third position and the second automatic semi-final place in the new play-off format.

Victory at Gander Green Lane would earn the Shots a home semi-final on Sunday, May 6.

Aldershot were relieved to salvage a point against relegation candidates Barrow, thanks to with Scott Rendell’s last-gasp header, while Sutton defeated in-form Ebbsfleet 1-0 at Stonebridge Road.

Macclesfield had already clinched the league title, and straight promotion, by beating Eastleigh 2-0 in the early kick-off and, later, Tranmere secured their berth in the semi-finals with a 2-0 win over FC Halifax.

Third-placed Sutton are just one point above Aldershot and with the teams having an identical goal-difference, the Us need a draw to reach the last four and leave the Shots having to play a qualification match. The teams in fourth and fifth will host the sides in seventh and sixth, with the winners going through to the last four.

On Saturday, just when it mattered most, Aldershot’s cutting-edge deserted them and despite having the lion’s share of possession, they rarely tested Barrow goalkeeper Steve Arnold.

Barrow’s game-plan was simple; defend well and take route-one on the counter, using Arnold’s massive goal-kicks, the aerial prowess of towering striker Jordan White and the ball-shielding skill, and occasional sly tricks, of the much-travelled Grant Holt, the former Nottingham Forest and Norwich striker.

Aldershot’s cause was not helped by an early injury to forward Matt McClure, but they lacked invention in their efforts to break down the robust Cumbrians.

McClure went closest to breaking the deadlock in a tense first half, his shot being deflected narrowly wide.

Things warmed up after half-time and a darting run by Cheye Alexander set up Shamir Fenelon for a shot that was well parried by Arnold.

The lively Fenelon then picked up James Rowe’s nicely-weighted pass and struck a rising shot that skimmed over the crossbar.

Barrow, meanwhile, sensed they could improve upon their initial target of a draw and player-coach Holt’s clever pass left White with just the goalkeeper to beat. Lewis Ward made a vital fingertip save, but it went unrecognised by referee Sam Purkiss who awarded a goal-kick.

Immediately, at the other end, Rowe’s angled chip was flapped away for a corner by Arnold, but it was Barrow who took the lead in the 72nd minute, raising the prospect of three precious points in their bid to beat the drop.

Ward got a fist to Dan Jones’ floated free-kick, but the ball carried only as far as Luke James who hooked a spectacular volley high into the top corner of the net.

Will Evans, who has developed a taste for adventurous runs from the back, almost replied for the Shots with a thumping drive just past the upright. But now the Bluebirds pulled everyone back and looked like holding out, despite losing substitute Bradley Bauress to a straight red card for a scything challenge on Evans after the ball had gone.

When Manny Oyeleke’s on-target piledriver was blocked by the impressive Arnold, it seemed that Barrow would prevail.

However, in the third of the five minutes of added time, it was Oyeleke who finally unlocked the defence with a looping cross over the massed ranks and Rendell, at last escaping his markers, darted in at the far post to beat Arnold with a powerful header.

Oyeleke had already been announced as man of the match and, after the final whistle, the consistently excellent midfielder was named both the Players’ and Supporters’ Player of the Year.

“Everyone wants excitement, and they’re certainly getting it,” said Gary Waddock ruefully. “We had a lot of possession, but didn’t work their goalkeeper nearly enough.

“But the players kept going and picked up a point from a late goal. They (Barrow) dropped off and allowed us possession and the way they defended showed they’d done their homework.

“Crosses fizzed across the box, just needing a touch, and one criticism is that we don’t get enough bodies in the goal-scoring areas.”

Aldershot: Ward, Alexander, Evans, Reynolds, Kinsella, Gallagher (Rowe 56), Oyeleke, Kellermann (McDonnell 68), Fenelon, Rendell, McClure (McQuoid 27). Subs (not used): Cole, Kabamba. Booked: Kellermann.

Barrow: Arnold, MacDonald, Hall, Diarra, Diagne (Gomis 78), Walters (Bauress 67), K James, Jones, L James, White, Holt (Panayiotou 64). Subs (not used): Fitzpatrick, Cook. Booked: L James, Gomis. Sent off: Bauress).

Referee: Sam Purkiss.

Attendance: 2,947 (119 away).

• Vanarama Qualifiers:

5th v 6th: Wednesday, May 2 (ko 7pm)

4th v 7th: Thursday, May 3 (7pm)

Vanarama Semi-Finals:

2nd v 5th/6th: Saturday, May 5 (12.15pm)

3rd v 4th/7th: Sunday, May 6 (3pm)

Vanarama Promotion Final:

Saturday, May 12 (3pm) at Wembley Stadium

All matches will be shown live on BT Sport. The games will go to extra time and penalty shoot-outs if required.

• Aldershot have made the play-offs for the second season running and will hope to do better than last year when they lost 5-2 to Tranmere on aggregate, having slumped to a 3-0 home defeat in the first leg.

• Woking can yet beat the drop in the National League, but the odds are against them as the final Saturday of the season approaches. The Cards, fourth from bottom, won 2-1 at relegated Guiseley on Saturday and are a point behind Barrow. But Barrow host doomed Chester in their final game, while Woking are home to Dover Athletic who have a slim chance of making the play-offs.