EASTLEIGH 0 BARROW 2

BARROW picked up their first away win of the season with a hard-earned three points from their 620-mile round trip to Hampshire to climb out of the relegation zone.

It’s now two wins from three matches for the Bluebirds under now boss Ady Pennock thanks to goals in each half fromByron Harrison and a screamer from defender Jimmy Dunne.

“It was a very tough three points,” Pennock admitted. “It’s a difficult place to come but it’s pleasing because it’s a first away win and a very good performance. We looked very strong.” Harrison’s 32ndminute strike was the most notable action of a lacklustre first half. The Barrow frontman was on hand to slot the ball home after a mishit clearance from Eastleigh debutant Simon Heslop. The game was far more lively after the interval. Within minutes, a mix-up in the home defence saw Adi Yussuf hit the post with keeper Graham Stack off his line.

Seconds later, James Constable hit the post for Eastleigh with a glancing header from one of the hosts’ 15 corner kicks before the visitors doubled their lead from a corner of their own – Dunne with a curling effort into the corner from outside the box after the hosts failed to clear their lines. It capped a fine afternoon for the centreback who also made two goal-line blocks at the other end. Eastleigh woke up in the final quarter but a combination of poor finishing and fine saves from Stuart Moore kept them out. Spitfires’ boss Richard Hill said the lively finish was “too little, too late” adding: “We played some decent football at the end, a couple of hard luck chances you could say, but we were not very good defensively at all.”