PAUL Cox acclaimed his Barrow AFC side as they came from behind to claim an unlikely National League win over Tranmere Rovers at Holker Street.

Former Bluebird Andy Cook gave high-flying Tranmere a first-half lead with a fine volley, but AFC reignited their play-off push with a strong comeback after the break.

Inih Effiong scored his first goal for the club less than two minutes after coming off the bench, and Jordan Williams fired in a 20-yard rapser to claim the three points and move the Bluebirds within two points of fifth-placed Dover.

Cox was delighted to see his team claim their first league win at Holker Street in four attempts and end a goal drought which had passed the six-hour mark in league action before Effiong broke it.

He was especially pleased as it came with a squad restricted to 15 players by injuries, suspensions and loan rules, and missing the likes of Richie Bennett, Liam Hughes (both banned) and Danny Livesey (concussion).

“I’m so proud of the whole place tonight – the players and the supporters,” said Cox. “I think the supporters knew that we were down to the bare bones and that we could only put four on the bench, and the side was put together overnight.

“What a tremendous attitude the boys have shown tonight – especially the boys who haven’t had a lot of game-time.

“The fans have done what they’ve done for us all season today, and really got behind us. They could really tell the boys were putting in a shift.

“It has been a really good night. We’ve played some really good stuff. In the end, we should have won it by more – how we missed some of the chances late on, I’ll never know.

“It’s a great win against a very good side. It’s looking between them, Lincoln and Forest Green now for the title. I’m really proud of the players tonight.”

The victory comes a week after Cox told players and fans alike to keep the faith and stick with the side as they attempt to be in promotion contention come the end of the season.

They now have 11 games remaining to try and be in the top-five at the end of April, and Cox added: “I’ve always believed. People might call me an eternal optimist, but I’ve always believed there is a still a chance.

“The players have really done themselves justice tonight. We’ve had a few meetings of late, and I’ve always known there is a belief in this group that we can achieve. We’ve had to take a few on the chin in the last three games, where we were beaten at Guiseley and drew with Torquay and Sutton. We probably had enough chances to win all three and come out with nine points. Things haven’t gone our way.

“What the players haven’t done, they haven’t sulked, they haven’t moped. They have worked extremely hard in training and they have been a credit to the football club.

“Once again tonight, they have set standards against what I would call a very good side.

“We’ll pat ourselves down now and go into what is a very important game at Eastleigh.”

One factor which worked in Barrow’s advantage against Rovers was facing opponents who were willing to go for goal themselves.

The AFC manager has noted in recent games against Torquay and Sutton that the visitors had come happy with the point they started with, whereas title-chasing Tranmere wanted all three.

That allowed the Bluebirds to push forward themselves, with Effiong, Shaun Tuton and Ross Hannah all used to good effect.

Cox never thought his side had suddenly become a bad one, and said: “We saw a side tonight who came and attacked us.

“That little bit of an injection of pace into that final third really caused Tranmere problems. We altered our shape a little bit and really asked questions of Tranmere’s three at the back.

“The first half, I just thought we didn’t have that little bit of extra belief in the final third, but we came alive in the second half, which was pleasing. We didn’t do ourselves justice in 45 minutes at Tranmere and we got punished by a very good side. Tonight, we showed ourselves to be very capable when we have that little bit extra in the tank.

“This club has come on leaps and bounds from 16 months ago, where teams would see it as probably an easy three points coming here. Then, they came and attacked.

“Now what teams are doing here is they are coming and sitting back, playing 4-5-1, frustrating us, sitting deep. That’s where I have called on us in that last third to be a little bit more clinical, because if you score one, they tend to come out and open up against you.

“It’s not down to good players suddenly becoming bad, or a manger all of a sudden not knowing his way, or the club being on a downward spiral. It has just been circumstances.

“I’ve always believed, the players have always believed. We want to battle, we want to fight, we want to bite and scratch for the next 11 games now and see where it takes us. Hopefully, it will be a positive end to the season.”