ANDY Cook’s fine headed goal ensured the Manager of the Month curse wasn’t to strike boss Paul Cox as Barrow extended their unbeaten run to eight matches with a consummate all-round away performance at Aldershot, writes JON COUCH.

The Bluebirds top scorer expertly dispatched Andy Haworth’s cross on 64 minutes to see off a previously in-form Shots side, who failed to muster a shot on target throughout.

And but for the woodwork in denying the recalled Ben Tomlinson, and a fine double save from Phil Smith, the Bluebirds would have sauntered to an even more comfortable victory as they looked to stretch their unbeaten run to eight matches.

Cox celebrated his Vanarama Manager of the Month Award for March by making a controversial call to leave out popular striker Jason Walker, just days after he capped his 250th appearance for the club with a man-of-the-match performance in the 4-1 win over FC Halifax on Monday.

Into the side came Tomlinson and it was the former Lincoln and Alfreton striker who came closest to breaking the deadlock on 31 minutes after crashing a shot against the post, cashing in on a superb overhead kick from Cook to keep Jordan Williams’ cross in play.

Solid in defence and industrious in the midfield, the Bluebirds were well on top up to that point, with the hosts grateful to goalkeeper Smith for a miraculous double save which kept parity restored inside the opening ten minutes.

Williams’ corner from the right found an unmarked Danny Livesey eight yards out, and after Smith had blocked his powerful header, the Shots stopper then reacted quickest to deflect Cook’s follow-up effort over the bar from even closer out.

Aldershot went into the match on the back of a happy Easter and a five-match unbeaten run at home since the turn of the year. But, manager Barry Smith just couldn’t find a way to break down a resolute Barrow side, whose defence, consisting of two former Aldershot players in Simon Grand and Nick Anderton, enjoyed a trouble-free afternoon.

Smith’s 4-5-1 formation, which worked in a 2-1 win over play-off chasing Braintree on Monday, was soon reverted back to a 4-4-2 and the home side had brief hope when Ross Lafayette’s 52nd-minute cross found Jake Gallagher. But the midfield ace couldn’t keep his header down with the goal at his mercy eight yards out.

It was to prove Aldershot’s only serious effort on Joel Dixon’s goal all game. In contrast, Barrow continued to threaten at the other end with Cook’s side-foot effort blocked by Omar Beckles after a neat back-heel from Tomlinson, who himself went close with a close-range header which was acrobatically cleared from just off his line by Gallagher.

Eventually, however, the Bluebirds got the goal they deserved on 64 minutes. Andy Haworth’s cross from the right, described by his manager as “sublime” – was floated in towards the far post and Cook rose between two Aldershot defenders to loop a header over Smith and into the far corner for his 19th league goal of the season.

With nothing to lose, Aldershot went for the jugular, but with Dixon allowed to bask in the Hampshire sunshine without a shot to save – and while the home fans became increasingly restless – the 85 hardy travelling fans, who made the 616-mile round trip from Cumbria, never looked like having their party ruined.

“Our supporters deserve the players running through brick walls for the next six games,” said Cox, whose side are still unbeaten on the road this calendar year.

“We can lay strong foundations this season and lay a marker down to where we want to be next year. We are starting to have this mindset where, if we turn up and show the same desire, ethics, morals, then we are a match for anyone in this league.”