Aldershot Town 0 Barrow AFC 2

That winning feeling returned for Barrow AFC, as goals in each half by Tyler Smith and Jack Hindle gave them a much-needed victory at Aldershot Town.

You could argue the Shots had nothing left in the tank after going to extra time and penalties in the FA Cup at Bradford in midweek, but that would be taking away from what was a consummate away performance from the Bluebirds.

It was helped by a change in formation that made them a much tougher proposition than in previous games and deservedly led to their second win on their travels in the National League season.

It also brought to an end to a six-match losing streak, in all competitions, and gave them more of a buffer between them and the teams below them, not to mention a timely confidence boost ahead of Tuesday’s visit of high-flying Wrexham.

That's not even mentioning it being the perfect end to what had already been a great week for the club, with new owners in place. What a difference three points makes.

There were four changes in personnel from last week’s poor home defeat against Eastleigh, which included a first start in Barrow colours for striker Jacob Blyth.

John Rooney and Jason Taylor, the latter back from suspension, returned in midfield, while Jack Barthram started as a right wing-back, with manager Ian Evatt choosing to go with a three-man defence.

It was stretched just two minutes in at the Recreation Ground, as Matt McClure found Josh Barrett in space down the left and he cut inside before his shot was deflected wide.

In what was an open start to the game, AFC went down the other end from the resulting corner, with Brian Wilson neatly passing to Rooney, who hit the side netting from a narrow angle.

Evatt will have been pleased with the start his team made, with the extra man in midfield making a difference and the zip in the passing that was missing against the Spitfires had made a comeback.

However, they were almost sucker-punched yet again when Shamir Fenelon’s low drive from 25 yards was well pushed away by a sprawling Joel Dixon.

Unlike in their previous away game, Barrow made their possession count when Rooney’s excellent footwork got him into space before he played the ball through to Smith.

The Bluebirds’ top scorer was able to turn before leaving Aldershot ‘keeper Will Mannion flat-footed in finding the net from just inside the area.

Rooney, who was having a terrific first half, then sent an audacious half-volley from long range wide, as the visitors went into half-time with their lead deservedly intact.

They will have been wary of the last time they were head at half-time on their travels, at Harrogate, where they collapsed in the second half, and they were up against a Shots side who made a triple substitution during the break.

They began the half like a side who’d had a flea in their ear, but Barrow’s defence, unlike that freezing night in North Yorkshire last month, was holding firm, with Dixon not being worked too much.

The sight of McClure sending a shot from outside the box out for a throw-in was a sure sign that Aldershot’s frustrations were building.

There was then a lengthy stoppage for an injury to Aldershot right-back Marvin McCoy after a crunching, but entirely fair, tackle from Blyth, defending well from the front.

Goalscorer Smith was replaced by Hindle with eight minutes left and what an instant impact he had, as he helped AFC seal the win within two minutes of coming on.

Taylor brought the ball into space before finding Hindle out on the right, with the substitute cutting inside before scoring past Mannion at the near post.

McClure came close to scoring a consolation deep into stoppage time, when McClure’s brilliant long-range effort was matched by Dixon’s athleticism, as he did superbly to tip it over and keep his clean sheet.

Aldershot Town (4-2-3-1): Mannion, McCoy, Lelan, Osho, Kinsella, Barrett, Gallagher (May 45), Booty (Howell 45), Fenelon (Grant 45), Barrett, Berkeley-Agyepong, McClure

Subs not used: Cole, Wanadio

Barrow AFC (3-4-1-2): Dixon, Wilson, Granite, Jones, Barthram, Taylor, Agustien (Jennings 62), Norrington-Davies, Rooney (Kay 90+2), Blyth, Smith (Hindle 82)

Subs not used: Brown, Burgess

Referee: Savvas Yianni

Attendance: 1,549